Why communication matters? The roles of patient-provider communication and social media use in cancer survivors’ meaning in life

Abstract

Meaning in life is essential for cancer survivors and may influence their coping behaviors and health. Extensive research has examined factors that predict meaning in life for cancer survivors. However, most of these studies focused on personal characteristics and reactions to a diagnosis but left the crucial role of communication underexamined. To fill this research gap, the current study conducted an empirical analysis of the US-based Health Information National Trends Survey 6 dataset (N = 900) and examined the underlying mechanisms through which patient-provider communication (PPC) and health-related social media use were related to cancer survivors' meaning in life. The results showed that both PPC and health-related social media use were positively associated with meaning in life. In addition, PPC was negatively associated with perceived social isolation, which in turn reduced meaning in life. Health-related social media use was positively related to perceived social isolation, which subsequently lowered meaning in life. Furthermore, health self-efficacy weakened the indirect pathway linking PPC and health-related social media use to meaning in life via perceived social isolation. The findings highlighted the constructive role of PPC and the dualistic role of health-related social media use in cancer survivors’ meaning in life, as well as the risk-buffering role of health self-efficacy. We also discussed the important theoretical and practical implications of the findings.