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Match between culture and social support: Acculturation moderates the relationship between social support and well-being of Chinese American breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

Social support does not always lead to health benefits; the outcomes depend on the match between the need and the provision of social support. Culture shapes individuals’ preference of social support types (e.g., supportive communication, social companionship, and tangible support). The present study examined how the association between social support and well-being may vary as a function of acculturation among minority cancer survivors.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-three Chinese American breast cancer survivors were invited to complete a questionnaire package.

Results

Findings showed that acculturation moderated the association of social support subtypes with psychological and physical well-being. Higher emotional/information support was associated with better quality of life and less physical symptoms among highly acculturated cancer survivors but more physical symptoms among those who were less acculturated. Tangible support was associated with more physical symptoms among highly acculturated cancer survivors but less physical symptoms among those who are less acculturated. Positive social interaction was associated with better quality of life and less physical symptoms among less acculturated cancer survivors but not associated with quality of life or physical symptoms among their highly acculturated counterparts.

Conclusion

The findings pointed to the significance of acculturation in breast cancer experience among minority women, especially its interplay with social support transactions.

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Funding

Dr. Qian Lu’s effort was supported by American Cancer Society MRSGT-10-011-01-CPPB (PI: Qian Lu) and National Cancer Institute R01 CA180896-01A1 (PI: Qian Lu).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Fred J. Heyne Building Rm 126, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5022, USA

    Celia C. Y. Wong & Qian Lu

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  1. Celia C. Y. Wong
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  2. Qian Lu
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Correspondence to Celia C. Y. Wong.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Wong, C.C.Y., Lu, Q. Match between culture and social support: Acculturation moderates the relationship between social support and well-being of Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Qual Life Res 26, 73–84 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1362-y

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