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Post-traumatic stress symptoms and social constraints in the communication with family caregivers among Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

The consequences of breast cancer on physical and psychological well-being have been extensively studied. One of the long-term effects of the disease is Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS). However, only a small number of studies examined PTSS among Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors. This study investigated interpersonal and physical health predictors of PTSS and explored sociodemographic and clinical factors linked to PTSS in this group. We hypothesized that higher levels of social constraints and lower levels of social support, relationship closeness, and physical health would be associated with higher levels of PTSS.

Methods

A sample of 96 Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors completed measures of PTSS, social constraints, social support, closeness, health-related quality of life, and acculturation. Bivariate correlation examined association between variables of interest. Then, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of PTSS.

Results

Participants reported an average score of 14.7 (SD = 10.46, range 0–44) on the severity of PTSS, with 54.2% (N = 52) meeting the criteria for likelihood of PTSD. PTSS were positively associated with social constraints and negatively associated with social support, closeness, and physical health. More medication usage was linked to worse PTSS. Only social constraints in the ability to communicate cancer-related concerns to the caregiver predicted worse PTSS severity.

Conclusions

The study unveils the role of interpersonal factors in mental health outcomes of Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors. Future research should be conducted on larger samples and culturally relevant psychosocial interventions should be developed.

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Funding

The study was supported by a research grant from the American Cancer Society. Grant/award number MRSGT-10-011-01-CPPB (PI: Lu, Qian).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Chiara Acquati & Christina E. Miyawaki

  2. Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Qian Lu

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Qian Lu

Authors
  1. Chiara Acquati
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  2. Christina E. Miyawaki
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  3. Qian Lu
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Correspondence to Chiara Acquati or Qian Lu.

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Acquati, C., Miyawaki, C.E. & Lu, Q. Post-traumatic stress symptoms and social constraints in the communication with family caregivers among Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 28, 4115–4122 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05206-0

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