The aims of this systematic review were (a) to analyze recent studies about the association between social support and coping strategies in cancer patients after an established diagnosis; (b) to evaluate the direction of this association; and (c) to highlight any differences among different cancer types. Seven databases were searched for studies reporting the association between coping and social support for cancer patients in the last 51 years. Most of the 52 included studies highlighted the association between coping and social support, regardless of the source. Our findings supported a bidirectional association. No significant differences were found among the different types of cancer. In conclusion, our results sustain the importance of knowledge in studying this association to identify social limits and resources for the well-being of oncological patients. This knowledge could lead to the creation of holistic protocols to prevent poor adjustment to cancer.
AymannsPFilippSHKlauerT (1995) Family support and coping with cancer: Some determinants and adaptive correlates. British Journal of Social Psychology34(Pt 1): 107–124.
2.
BatistaRCunhaMGalhardoA, et al (2015) Psychological adjustment to lung cancer: The role of self-compassion and social support. European Psychiatry30: 1511.
3.
BehenJMRodrigueJR (1994) Predictors of coping strategies among adults with cancer. Psychological Reports74(1): 43–48.
4.
Boatemaa BensonRCobboldBOpoku BoamahE, et al (2020) Challenges, coping strategies, and social support among breast cancer patients in Ghana. Advances in Public Health2020: 1–11.
5.
BottaroRFaraciP (2022) The influence of socio-demographics and clinical characteristics on coping strategies in cancer patients: A systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer. 30(2): 1–19.
6.
BrothersBMAndersenBL (2009) Hopelessness as a predictor of depressive symptoms for breast cancer patients coping with recurrence. Psycho-oncology18(3): 267–275.
7.
CalderonCGomezDCarmona-BayonasA, et al (2021) Social support, coping strategies and sociodemographic factors in women with breast cancer. Clinical & Translational Oncology23(9): 1955–1960.
8.
CaoWQiXCaiDA, et al (2018) Modeling posttraumatic growth among cancer patients: The roles of social support, appraisals, and adaptive coping. Psycho-oncology27(1): 208–215.
9.
ChanCWHonHCChienWT, et al (2004) Social support and coping in Chinese patients undergoing cancer surgery. Cancer Nursing27(3): 230–236.
10.
CiceroVLo CocoGGulloS, et al (2009) The role of attachment dimensions and perceived social support in predicting adjustment to cancer. Psycho-oncology18(10): 1045–1052.
11.
CobbS (1976) Presidential Address-1976. Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine38(5): 300–314.
12.
Costa-RequenaGBallester ArnalRGilF (2015) The influence of coping response and health-related quality of life on perceived social support during cancer treatment. Palliative & Supportive Care13(3): 683–689.
13.
De PadovaSGrassiLVaghegginiA, et al (2021) Post-traumatic stress symptoms in long-term disease-free cancer survivors and their family caregivers. Cancer Medicine10(12): 3974–3985.
14.
Dukes HollandKHolahanCK (2003) The relation of social support and coping to positive adaptation to breast cancer. Health Psychology18(1): 15–29.
15.
FaraciPBottaroRCraparoG (2021) Coping strategies and perceived social support among cancer patients: A cross-sectional analysis. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology9(1), 1–22.
16.
FilazogluGGrivaK (2008) Coping and social support and health related quality of life in women with breast cancer in Turkey. Psychology Health & Medicine13(5): 559–573.
17.
GilSGilbarO (2001) Hopelessness among cancer patients. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology19(1): 21–33.
18.
GoldzweigGAndritschEHubertA, et al (2009) How relevant is marital status and gender variables in coping with colorectal cancer? A sample of middle-aged and older cancer survivors. Psycho-oncology18(8): 866–874.
19.
GoldzweigGHasson-OhayonIMeirovitzA, et al (2010) Agents of support: Psychometric properties of the Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support (CPASS) questionnaire. Psycho-oncology19(11): 1179–1186.
20.
GonzalesFAHurtado-de-MendozaASantoyo-OlssonJ, et al (2016) Do coping strategies mediate the effects of emotional support on emotional well-being among Spanish-speaking Latina breast cancer survivors?Psycho-oncology25(11): 1286–1292.
21.
GrassiLRostiGLasalviaA, et al (1993) Psychosocial variables associated with mental adjustment to cancer. Psycho-oncology2(1): 11–20.
22.
Hudek-KneževićJKardumIPahljinaR (2002) Relations among social support, coping, and negative affect in hospitalized and nonhospitalized cancer patients. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology20(2): 45–63.
23.
JangMKimJ (2018) A structural model for stress, coping, and psychosocial adjustment: A multi-group analysis by stages of survivorship in Korean women with breast cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing33: 41–48.
24.
KaliamposARoussiP (2017) Religious beliefs, coping, and psychological well-being among Greek cancer patients. Journal of Health Psychology22(6): 754–764.
25.
KangYSonH (2019) Age differences in the coping strategies of patients with colorectal cancer. Cancer Nursing42(4): 286–294.
26.
KhaterWAAlkwieseMJ (2013) Predictors of hope among patients with cancer in Jordan. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing15(8): 471–478.
27.
KimJJangM (2020) Stress, social support, and sexual adjustment in married female patients with breast cancer in Korea. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing7(1): 28–35.
28.
LiberatiAAltmanDGTetzlaffJ, et al (2009) The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and elaboration. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology62(10): e1–e34.
29.
LiuZTaoXChenY, et al (2015) Bed rest versus early ambulation with standard anticoagulation in the management of deep vein thrombosis: A meta-analysis. PLoS One10(4): e0121388.
30.
LuszczynskaAGerstorfDBoehmerS, et al (2007) Patients’ coping profiles and partners’ support provision. Health Psychology22(7): 749–764.
31.
MaJL (1998) Effect of perceived social support on adjustment of patients suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Health & Social Work23(3): 167–174.
32.
MaghsoodiSSalehinejadZ (2020) Relationship between social support and coping strategies and disease among the cancer patients of the City of Kerman. Journal of Research and Health10(6): 375–382.
33.
MallinckrodtBArmerJMHeppnerPP (2012) A threshold model of social support, adjustment, and distress after breast cancer treatment. Journal of Counseling Psychology59(1): 150–160.
34.
ManneSOstroffJShermanM, et al (2003) Buffering effects of family and friend support on associations between partner unsupportive behaviors and coping among women with breast cancer. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships20(6): 771–792.
35.
MatthewsEECookPF (2009) Relationships among optimism, well-being, self-transcendence, coping, and social support in women during treatment for breast cancer. Psycho-oncology18(7): 716–726.
36.
McDonnellGAShukEFordJS (2020) A qualitative study of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors’ perceptions of family and peer support. Journal of Health Psychology25(5): 713–726.
37.
MishraVSSaranathD (2019) Association between demographic features and perceived social support in the mental adjustment to breast cancer. Psycho-oncology28(3): 629–634.
38.
OhGHYeomCWShimEJ, et al (2020) The effect of perceived social support on chemotherapy-related symptoms in patients with breast cancer: A prospective observational study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research130: 109911.
39.
OhPJLeeYJ (2008) Predictors of fighting spirit or helplessness/hopelessness in people with cancer. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing38(2): 270–277.
40.
OzdemirDTas ArslanF (2018) An investigation of the relationship between social support and coping with stress in women with breast cancer. Psycho-oncology27(9): 2214–2219.
41.
ÖztunçGYeşilPPaydaşS, et al (2013) Social support and hopelessness in patients with breast cancer. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: APJCP14(1): 571–578.
42.
PehlivanSOvayoluOOvayoluN, et al (2012) Relationship between hopelessness, loneliness, and perceived social support from family in Turkish patients with cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer20(4): 733–739.
43.
RizalarSOzbasAAkyolcuN, et al (2014) Effect of perceived social support on psychosocial adjustment of Turkish patients with breast cancer. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention15(8): 3429–3434.
44.
RodrigueJRBehenJMTumlinT (1994) Multidimensional determinants of psychological adjustment to cancer. Psycho-oncology3(3): 205–214.
45.
SeçkinG (2011) I am proud and hopeful: Age-based comparisons in positive coping affect among women who use online peer-support. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology29(5): 573–591.
46.
SellaEMiolaLToffaliniE, et al (2021) The relationship between sleep quality and quality of life in aging: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review. Epub ahead of print 20 October 2021. DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2021.1974309.
47.
SharpeLMichalowskiMRichmondB, et al (2022) Fear of progression in chronic illnesses other than cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of a transdiagnostic construct. Health Psychology Review. Epub ahead of print 18 February 2022. DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2022.2039744.
48.
SkinnerEAZimmer-GembeckMJ (2009) Challenges to the developmental study of coping. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development2009(124): 5–17.
49.
SöllnerWZschockeIZingg-SchirM, et al (1999) Interactive patterns of social support and individual coping strategies in melanoma patients and their correlations with adjustment to illness. Psychosomatics40(3): 239–250.
50.
TanM (2007) Social support and coping in Turkish patients with cancer. Cancer Nursing30(6): 498–504.
51.
TanMKarabulutluE (2005) Social support and hopelessness in Turkish patients with cancer. Cancer Nursing28(3): 236–240.
52.
ThorntonLMLevinAODorfmanCS, et al (2014) Emotions and social relationships for breast and gynecologic patients: A qualitative study of coping with recurrence. Psycho-oncology23(4): 382–389.
53.
TianXJinYChenH, et al (2021) Relationships among social support, coping style, perceived stress, and psychological distress in Chinese lung cancer patients. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing8(2): 172–179.
54.
TomaiMLauriolaMCaputoA (2019) Are social support and coping styles differently associated with adjustment to cancer in early and advanced stages?Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology. in press.
55.
TrejnowskaAGoodallKRushR, et al (2020) The relationship between adult attachment and coping with brain tumour: The mediating role of social support. Psycho-oncology29(4): 729–736.
56.
Uslu-SahanFTerziogluFKocG (2019) Hopelessness, death anxiety, and social support of hospitalized patients with gynecologic cancer and their caregivers. Cancer Nursing42(5): 373–380.
57.
UstaYY (2012) Importance of social support in cancer patients. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention13(8): 3569–3572.
58.
WalkerMSZonaDMFisherEB (2006) Depressive symptoms after lung cancer surgery: Their relation to coping style and social support. Psycho-oncology15(8): 684–693.
59.
WatsonMGreerSYoungJ, et al (1988) Development of a questionnaire measure of adjustment to cancer: The MAC scale. Psychological Medicine18(1): 203–209.
60.
WatsonMLawMGSantosMD, et al (1994) The mini-MAC: Further development of the mental adjustment to cancer scale. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology12(3): 33–46.
61.
World Health Organization (2020) WHO report on cancer: Setting priorities, investing wisely and providing care for all. World Health Organization. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/330745 (accessed 7 March 2022).
62.
YağmurYDumanM (2016) The relationship between the social support level perceived by patients with gynecologic cancer and mental adjustment to cancer. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics134(2): 208–211.
63.
YilmazSDBalMDBejiNK, et al (2015) Ways of coping with stress and perceived social support in gynecologic cancer patients. Cancer Nursing38(2): E57–E62.
64.
ZabaleguiACabreraENavarroM, et al (2013) Perceived social support and coping strategies in advanced cancer patients. Journal of Research in Nursing18(5): 409–420.
65.
ZhangJGaoWWangP, et al. (2010) Relationships among hope, coping style and social support for breast cancer patients. Chinese Medical Journal123(17): 2331–2335.
66.
ZhangLLuYQinY, et al (2020) Post-traumatic growth and related factors among 1221 Chinese cancer survivors. Psycho-oncology29(2): 413–422.
67.
ZimetGDDahlemNWZimetSG, et al (1988) The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment52(1): 30–41.
68.
ZimetGDPowellSSFarleyGK, et al (1990) Psychometric characteristics of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment55(3–4): 610–617.
69.
ZimmermannFFJordanJBurrellB (2020) Coping with cancer mindfully: A feasibility study of a mindfulness intervention focused on acceptance and meaning in life for adults with advanced cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing44: 101715.
70.
ZuccaACBoyesAWLecathelinaisC, et al (2010) Life is precious and I’m making the best of it: coping strategies of long-term cancer survivors. Psycho-oncology19(12): 1268–1276.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
