Social Support, Sense of Control, and Coping Among Patients with Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

The role of social support, a personal sense of control, and coping, as well as the interplay among them, in psychological and functional adaptation to a recent first diagnosis of cancer was examined in 369 patients with breast, colorectal, or lung cancer. Multivariate techniques were used to assess the relationships among the dimensions of support as measured by the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction, sense of control, rehance on religion, cognitive restructuring, psychological well-being, and psychological distress as measured by the Rand Mental Health Inventory and role functioning. The results indicated significant independent associations between support and control and adaptation outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of examining social support and the sense of control within an overall structure of coping with serious illness.