Effects of social constraints and web-based psychoeducation on cancer-related psychological adjustment early-after breast cancer diagnosis

Abstract

Purpose: Social constraints are interactions between individuals that result in preventing one’s disclosure of thoughts and emotions needed to facilitate cognitive processing of a traumatic event such as a breast cancer diagnosis. This study explored women’s perceived social constraints from spouse/partners (S/P) and family/friends (F/F) in the first months after diagnosis while engaged in a study of CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a web-based, psychoeducational, self-management intervention aimed at women’s psychological adjustment.

Design: Randomized, controlled, pilot study.

Sample: 100 women within 0–3 months of first, stage 0–II breast cancer diagnosis.

Methods: Subjects were randomized to self-guided use of CaringGuidance™ for three months plus usual care or usual care alone. Social constraints (S/P) and (F/F), distress, depressive-symptoms, intrusive/avoidant thoughts, and coping were measured at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 months.

Findings: The CaringGuidance™ group experienced a significantly greater decrease in perceived social constraints from S/P and F/F over three months than the usual care group. Change in social constraints from F/F significantly moderated change in depressive-symptoms and intrusive/avoidant thoughts, but the same was not true for change in S/P constraints.

Conclusions: CaringGuidance™ holds promise as an intervention for newly diagnosed women to self-manage perceptions of social constraints.

Implications for Psychosocial Providers: Providers should assess newly diagnosed women’s perceptions of social constraining behavior from F/F, recognizing the potential significant impact of these interactions on psychological adjustment.

Keywords:

• breast cancer
• family
• intervention research
• psychological adjustment
• social constraints

Acknowledgments

CaringGuidance™ After Breast Cancer Diagnosis was created and developed by Robin M. Lally’s team while at the University at Buffalo. Copyright 2016 The Research Foundation for the State University of New York with a non-exclusive license to the University of Nebraska for research and development.

Data availability statement

The dataset generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to what was agreed to by study subjects in their informed consent. Data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and with permission of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Research Foundation for the State University of New York who may impose restrictions based on their licensing agreement.

Additional information

Funding

American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant MRSG-11-101-01-CPPB.