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ABSTRACT
Given the stress and uncertainty of struggling with a serious disease, it is important to understand and identify factors related to the mental health of women with cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of health perceptions, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and social support on the mental health of women with breast cancer living in the U.S. Data for this study were obtained from the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5 Cycle 1). It was found that three independent variables (i.e., LTPA, perceived social support, and health perception) significantly contributed to mental health in the proposed model. Of these variables, social support was the strongest positive predictor of mental health among women with breast cancer, followed by LTPA and health perception. The results of this study suggest that receiving positive social support, participating in LTPA, and maintaining perceptions of positive health status are important for the mental health and wellbeing of women with breast cancer.
Disclosure statement
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Junhyoung Kim
Dr. Junhyoung Kim is an assistant professor in the Department of Health & Wellness Design at the School of Public Health at Indiana University. He specializes in rehabilitation studies, physical and mental health, and leisure-time physical activity. His research seeks to identify the value of leisure-time physical activity as stress coping mechanisms among diverse groups such as immigrants/international students, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Jaehyun Kim
Dr. Jaehyun Kim is a lecturer in the Department of Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, and Tourism at State University of New York, Brockport. His research focus has been on the relationship of leisure behavior to health and well-being among ethnic minorities and other vulnerable populations, such as older adults, cancer patients, people with alcohol or other drug use disorders, and individuals with disabilities.
Areum Han
Areum Han, Ph.D., is a research professor of Center for Curriculum and Institute of Studies of Korea University in South Korea. Her research focuses on investigating the effects of leisure activities on health benefits among diverse groups such as older adults, Korean immigrants, and individuals with disabilities.
Minh Cong Nguyen
Minh Cong Nguyen is a faculty member of Hospitality & Tourism Institute of Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam. His research interests are in Cultural Tourism, Food Tourism, Medical Tourism, Tourist Behavior & Hospitality Marketing.