Abstract A077: Examining the relationship between various informal sources of social support and the physical well-being among cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Cancer survivors have previously reported lower quality of life scores compared to non-cancer survivors. More specifically, the quality of life domain of physical well-being has previously been shown to be significantly worse among cancer survivors compared to non-cancer survivors. Previous studies have observed that specific sources of informal social support (i.e., support from family and friends) can improve a cancer survivor's physical well-being. However, no studies to date have assessed if support from fictive kin (or individuals who are not related by marriage or blood but are considered to be an extension of the family) and church members may also play a role on the physical well-being of cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between four informal sources of social support (i.e., family, friends, fictive kin, and church members) and the physical well-being among cancer survivors. Findings were based on data collected from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) dataset. Physical well-being was measured using the following item from the NSAL dataset: “How would you rate your overall physical health at the present time?” A total of 238 cancer survivors (n=70 non-Hispanic whites, n=36 Caribbean Blacks, n=132 African Americans) comprised the study sample. Multiple imputation analyses were conducted within SAS to assess the associations between the informal sources of social support and the physical well-being among cancer survivors. All multiple imputation analyses were controlled for gender, age, race, household income, years of education, marital status, employment status, length of time residing in the U.S, and insurance coverage. Neither friends (β= -0.07, SE=0.09, p=0.42) nor fictive kin (β=0.06, SE=0.13, p=0.66) were significantly associated with the physical well-being of cancer survivors. Support from family was marginally associated with physical well-being (β=0.16, SE=0.08, p=0.05). A positive association was observed between support from church members and physical well-being (β=0.22, SE=0.09, p=0.01). Findings from this study suggest that support from church members can play an important role on the physical well-being of cancer survivors. Researchers of future health promotion interventions should consider collaborating with churches as a means of improving the physical well-being among cancer survivors. Citation Format: Shaila M. Strayhorn. Examining the relationship between various informal sources of social support and the physical well-being among cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A077.