Impact of social support on psychosocial symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients: results of a multilevel model approach from a longitudinal multicenter study

Sauer C, Weis J, Faller H, Junne F, Honig K, Bergelt C, Hornemann B, Stein B, Teufel M, Goerling U, Erim Y, Geiser F, Niecke A, Senf B, Weber D, Maatouk I (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Acta Oncologica Informa Healthcare

DOI: 10.1080/0284186X.2019.1631471

Abstract

Background: This prospective multicenter study aimed to investigate the courses of positive support (PS) and detrimental interaction (DI), two different aspects of social support, and the relation between social support and psychosocial distress and/or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a large sample of patients with different cancers. Methods: For this observational study, we enrolled adult patients with cancer from 13 comprehensive cancer centers (CCCs) in Germany. We included a total of 1087 patients in our analysis. We assessed the outcomes via standardized self-report questionnaires at three measurement points: at admission for acute care (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) thereafter. Our outcome variables included PS and DI, depression and anxiety symptoms, distress, mental quality of life (MQoL) and physical QoL (PQoL). Data were analyzed using three-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and group-based trajectory modeling. Results: During the first year after the cancer diagnosis, both PS and DI decreased in our sample. Baseline depression symptom severity was a significant predictor of PS and DI. Further analyses revealed significant associations between PS, DI and the course of depression and anxiety symptoms, and MQoL. PS buffered the negative effects of DI with regards to these variables. Low DI was associated with better PQoL, whereas PS was not. In general, the impact of social support on psychosocial outcomes was weak to moderate. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the influence of PS and DI on psychosocial symptoms and HRQOL, and emphasize the importance of psycho-oncological interventions that strengthen PS and prevent or reduce DI for patients with cancer and their relatives.

Authors with CRIS profile

Yesim Erim Professur für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie

Involved external institutions

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Tübingen DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Ulm DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg DE Germany (DE) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Bonn DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Köln DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main (KGU) DE Germany (DE) Universitäres Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH) DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden DE Germany (DE) Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität AT Austria (AT) Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Sauer, C., Weis, J., Faller, H., Junne, F., Honig, K., Bergelt, C.,... Maatouk, I. (2019). Impact of social support on psychosocial symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients: results of a multilevel model approach from a longitudinal multicenter study. Acta Oncologica. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2019.1631471

MLA:

Sauer, Christina, et al. "Impact of social support on psychosocial symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients: results of a multilevel model approach from a longitudinal multicenter study." Acta Oncologica (2019).

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