Social support network of Taiwanese cancer patients

Abstract

Social support, cancer and culture Social support involves interpersonal transactions; the feeling about oneself and others that are engendered by the aggregate of these continuing transactions encountered by the individual may serve as a buffer for stressful life events such as a negative change in health status. Caplan (1976) identified three elements characteristic of social support. These elements are that significant others help individuals mobilize psychological resources and master emotional burdens, share the individual’s tasks and provide the individual with material aid or guidance to assist in the handling of a situation. The extent to which the Taiwanese share similar views about the characteristics of social support is unknown. It is plausible that there are subtle differences in the meaning of social support across cultures. Cancer is an illness that affects not only the individual but also the individual’s family and other social support network members. The meaning that is attributed to the cancer experience is influenced by the individual’s social and cultural background which in turn influences the patient’s behavior in coping with the illness. People who have difficulties in reaching out to others and who may be hard to reach by others may have less abilities and resources to cope with cancer. These individuals may require additional attention and commitment from the professional nurse. People with well-functioning social networks may also require additional support during the phase of the cancer experience to help mitigate the pain and anxieties associated with the potentially life-threatening illness. It may be important to determine the individual’s need for social affiliation. An individual’s resources and the extent of satisfaction with those resources need to be considered. A social support system is a composite of individuals whose interpersonal relationship satisfy specific personal social needs of the individual. The social support system