Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe the social support networks and daily support interactions of cancer-affected individuals, including young adult (YA) and LGBTQIA+ survivors and care partners.MethodsParticipants were recruited at two United States cancer centers and via social media...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.852267/full |
| _version_ | 1811314149273108480 |
|---|---|
| author | Kristin G. Cloyes Jia-Wen Guo Karrin E. Tennant Rachael McCormick Kelly J. Mansfield Sarah E. Wawrzynski Sarah C. Classen Eric C. Jones Maija Reblin |
| author_facet | Kristin G. Cloyes Jia-Wen Guo Karrin E. Tennant Rachael McCormick Kelly J. Mansfield Sarah E. Wawrzynski Sarah C. Classen Eric C. Jones Maija Reblin |
| author_sort | Kristin G. Cloyes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe the social support networks and daily support interactions of cancer-affected individuals, including young adult (YA) and LGBTQIA+ survivors and care partners.MethodsParticipants were recruited at two United States cancer centers and via social media for a pilot study testing a novel online method for collecting prospective, daily social support interaction data (N=28). All participants were aged 18+; survivors had a current or recent cancer diagnosis and were engaged in treatment and/or services; care partners were identified by the survivors. Enrollment also purposefully targeted YA and LGBTQIA+ survivors. Social network data (up to 10 members) were assessed at baseline. Daily online surveys assessed support interactions between participants and specific network members over 14 days. Descriptive statistics summarized data and explored between-group (YA/non-YA, LGBTQIA+/non-LGBTQIA+) differences in social network characteristics (size, heterogeneity, density, centralization, cohesion) and support interactions (support source and type).ResultsThere were no significant differences between YA and non-YA participants on any measures. LGBTQIA+ participants’ support networks were less dense (Mdn=0.69 vs. 0.82, p=.02), less cohesive (Mdn=0.85 vs. 0.91,.02), more centered on the participant (Mdn=0.40 vs. 0.24, p=.047), and included more LGBTQIA+ members (Mdn=0.35 vs. 0.00, p<.001). LGBTQIA+ participants reported having more interactions with LGBTQIA+ network members (Mdn=14.0 vs. Mdn=0.00, p<.001) and received significantly more of all types of support from LGBTQIA+ vs. non-LGBTQIA+ members. LGBTQIA+ participants also reported receiving more appraisal support than non-LGBTQIA+ (Mdn 21.64 vs. 9.12, p=.008) including more appraisal support from relatives (Mdn=11.73 vs 6.0, p+.037).ConclusionsImportant information related to support access, engagement, and needs is embedded within the everyday contexts of the social networks of cancer-affected people. Individualized, accessible, and prospective assessment could help illuminate how their “real world” support systems are working and identify specific strengths and unmet needs. These insights would inform the development of more culturally competent and tailored interventions to help people understand and leverage their unique support systems. This is particularly critical for groups like YA and LGBTQIA+ survivors and care partners that are underserved by formal support services and underrepresented in cancer, caregiving, and social support research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:06:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-918187f718724d339a18888f0730b39d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:06:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-918187f718724d339a18888f0730b39d2022-12-22T02:49:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2022-04-011210.3389/fonc.2022.852267852267Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care PartnersKristin G. Cloyes0Jia-Wen Guo1Karrin E. Tennant2Rachael McCormick3Kelly J. Mansfield4Sarah E. Wawrzynski5Sarah C. Classen6Eric C. Jones7Maija Reblin8College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesCollege of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesCollege of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesDepartment of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United StatesCollege of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesCollege of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, El Paso, TX, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, El Paso, TX, United StatesLarner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United StatesPurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe the social support networks and daily support interactions of cancer-affected individuals, including young adult (YA) and LGBTQIA+ survivors and care partners.MethodsParticipants were recruited at two United States cancer centers and via social media for a pilot study testing a novel online method for collecting prospective, daily social support interaction data (N=28). All participants were aged 18+; survivors had a current or recent cancer diagnosis and were engaged in treatment and/or services; care partners were identified by the survivors. Enrollment also purposefully targeted YA and LGBTQIA+ survivors. Social network data (up to 10 members) were assessed at baseline. Daily online surveys assessed support interactions between participants and specific network members over 14 days. Descriptive statistics summarized data and explored between-group (YA/non-YA, LGBTQIA+/non-LGBTQIA+) differences in social network characteristics (size, heterogeneity, density, centralization, cohesion) and support interactions (support source and type).ResultsThere were no significant differences between YA and non-YA participants on any measures. LGBTQIA+ participants’ support networks were less dense (Mdn=0.69 vs. 0.82, p=.02), less cohesive (Mdn=0.85 vs. 0.91,.02), more centered on the participant (Mdn=0.40 vs. 0.24, p=.047), and included more LGBTQIA+ members (Mdn=0.35 vs. 0.00, p<.001). LGBTQIA+ participants reported having more interactions with LGBTQIA+ network members (Mdn=14.0 vs. Mdn=0.00, p<.001) and received significantly more of all types of support from LGBTQIA+ vs. non-LGBTQIA+ members. LGBTQIA+ participants also reported receiving more appraisal support than non-LGBTQIA+ (Mdn 21.64 vs. 9.12, p=.008) including more appraisal support from relatives (Mdn=11.73 vs 6.0, p+.037).ConclusionsImportant information related to support access, engagement, and needs is embedded within the everyday contexts of the social networks of cancer-affected people. Individualized, accessible, and prospective assessment could help illuminate how their “real world” support systems are working and identify specific strengths and unmet needs. These insights would inform the development of more culturally competent and tailored interventions to help people understand and leverage their unique support systems. This is particularly critical for groups like YA and LGBTQIA+ survivors and care partners that are underserved by formal support services and underrepresented in cancer, caregiving, and social support research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.852267/fullLGBTQIA+cancer survivorcare partneryoung adultsexual and gender minoritysocial network |
| spellingShingle | Kristin G. Cloyes Jia-Wen Guo Karrin E. Tennant Rachael McCormick Kelly J. Mansfield Sarah E. Wawrzynski Sarah C. Classen Eric C. Jones Maija Reblin Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners Frontiers in Oncology LGBTQIA+ cancer survivor care partner young adult sexual and gender minority social network |
| title | Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners |
| title_full | Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners |
| title_short | Exploring Social Support Networks and Interactions of Young Adult and LGBTQIA+ Cancer Survivors and Care Partners |
| title_sort | exploring social support networks and interactions of young adult and lgbtqia cancer survivors and care partners |
| topic | LGBTQIA+ cancer survivor care partner young adult sexual and gender minority social network |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.852267/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kristingcloyes exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT jiawenguo exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT karrinetennant exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT rachaelmccormick exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT kellyjmansfield exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT sarahewawrzynski exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT sarahcclassen exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT ericcjones exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners AT maijareblin exploringsocialsupportnetworksandinteractionsofyoungadultandlgbtqiacancersurvivorsandcarepartners |