La percezione del supporto sociale ed emotivo nel processo di adattamento alla malattia: uno studio con pazienti oncologici e loro caregivers.

Purpose: this study aims to investigate the role of social and emotional support in predicting patient adjustment to cancer. Patients and method: 80 patients with I stage cancer (mean age: 56,02) and their respective caregivers (mean age: 46,4) are included in the study. Participants are recruited in an outpatient oncology clinic. Most of patients (71,2%) have a breast cancer, and are treated with conservative surgery and mastectomy. Most of caregivers (78,7%) belong to patients’ family. Results and discussion: patients’ perception of social support from friends and emotional support given to caregivers predict a better adjustment to cancer, reducing negative feelings and a resigned attitude towards the illness. Interestingly, a low sense of Helplessness and Fatalism are predicted by patients’ perception of receiving support outside their family, and giving emotional support to their caregivers within the family.