Perceptions of postmastectomy patients. Part I. The relationships between social support and network providers.

With the increased incidence of breast cancer in the United States, emotional adjustment of postmastectomy patients is a growing concern. This study was designed to examine demographic and social network variables that relate to social support. Breast cancer patients (N = 613) who had a mastectomy within the past 24 months (means = 12 months) responded to the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ). To supplement the quantitative data, interviews were conducted with 27 women. Results from the NSSQ indicated that women perceived greater emotional support (means = 4.25) than aid (means = 3.97) from their network providers. The average number of persons (both professional and lay) in the women's total network was 8.1, comprising 57% family members and 27% friends. Relationships with network providers were characterized as stable (5-year) and frequent (weekly). Social support increased with age, but the size of the network decreased. No significant difference existed between marital categories in emotional support or frequency of contact. Married or widowed women perceived similar amounts of aid, whereas single and divorced women indicated less. Divorced women reported significantly larger networks than the other three marital status categories. Persons with less education perceived greater emotional support than those with more education. Being married had a significant positive relationship to emotional support (p less than .001).