Social networks and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors: A prospective study

Yvonne L. Michael; Lisa F. Berkman; Graham A. Colditz; Michelle D. Holmes; Ichiro Kawachi

doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(01)00270-7

Social networks and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors: A prospective study

Yvonne L. Michael, Lisa F. Berkman, Graham A. Colditz, Michelle D. Holmes, Ichiro Kawachi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To examine prospectively the influence of social networks on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Social networks and HRQoL were assessed among women free of breast cancer in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS). Women who developed breast cancer over a 4-year follow-up (n=708) completed detailed questions related to treatment together with an assessment of general and cancer-specific HRQoL. Results: On average, socially isolated women were more adversely affected by breast cancer - their role function was lower by 14 points, vitality lower by 7 points, and physical function lower by 6 points compared to the most socially integrated women. Conclusion: Prediagnosis level of social integration is an important factor in future HRQoL among breast cancer survivors, and appears to explain more of the variance in HRQoL than treatment or tumor characteristics. Rehabilitation programs should incorporate interventions that address the availability of adequate social support among breast cancer survivors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	285-293
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume	52
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(01)00270-7
State	Published - 2002

Keywords

Breast cancer
Health-related quality of life
SF-36
Social networks

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@article{084236a54649462f800d3a064d107235,

title = "Social networks and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors: A prospective study",

abstract = "Purpose: To examine prospectively the influence of social networks on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Social networks and HRQoL were assessed among women free of breast cancer in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS). Women who developed breast cancer over a 4-year follow-up (n=708) completed detailed questions related to treatment together with an assessment of general and cancer-specific HRQoL. Results: On average, socially isolated women were more adversely affected by breast cancer - their role function was lower by 14 points, vitality lower by 7 points, and physical function lower by 6 points compared to the most socially integrated women. Conclusion: Prediagnosis level of social integration is an important factor in future HRQoL among breast cancer survivors, and appears to explain more of the variance in HRQoL than treatment or tumor characteristics. Rehabilitation programs should incorporate interventions that address the availability of adequate social support among breast cancer survivors.",

keywords = "Breast cancer, Health-related quality of life, SF-36, Social networks",

author = "Michael, {Yvonne L.} and Berkman, {Lisa F.} and Colditz, {Graham A.} and Holmes, {Michelle D.} and Ichiro Kawachi",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by research grants (CA40356, AG12806) from the National Institutes of Health, and a grant from the Dana Foundation. Ichiro Kawachi was partially supported by a grant from the American Cancer Society (grant #RPG-98-101-01-PBP). Yvonne Michael was partially supported by a predoctoral Cancer Prevention Fellowship from the National Cancer Institute. ",

year = "2002",

doi = "10.1016/S0022-3999(01)00270-7",

language = "English",

volume = "52",

pages = "285--293",

journal = "Journal of Psychosomatic Research",

issn = "0022-3999",

number = "5",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Social networks and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors

T2 - A prospective study

AU - Michael, Yvonne L.

AU - Berkman, Lisa F.

AU - Colditz, Graham A.

AU - Holmes, Michelle D.

AU - Kawachi, Ichiro

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by research grants (CA40356, AG12806) from the National Institutes of Health, and a grant from the Dana Foundation. Ichiro Kawachi was partially supported by a grant from the American Cancer Society (grant #RPG-98-101-01-PBP). Yvonne Michael was partially supported by a predoctoral Cancer Prevention Fellowship from the National Cancer Institute.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - Purpose: To examine prospectively the influence of social networks on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Social networks and HRQoL were assessed among women free of breast cancer in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS). Women who developed breast cancer over a 4-year follow-up (n=708) completed detailed questions related to treatment together with an assessment of general and cancer-specific HRQoL. Results: On average, socially isolated women were more adversely affected by breast cancer - their role function was lower by 14 points, vitality lower by 7 points, and physical function lower by 6 points compared to the most socially integrated women. Conclusion: Prediagnosis level of social integration is an important factor in future HRQoL among breast cancer survivors, and appears to explain more of the variance in HRQoL than treatment or tumor characteristics. Rehabilitation programs should incorporate interventions that address the availability of adequate social support among breast cancer survivors.

AB - Purpose: To examine prospectively the influence of social networks on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among breast cancer survivors. Methods: Social networks and HRQoL were assessed among women free of breast cancer in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS). Women who developed breast cancer over a 4-year follow-up (n=708) completed detailed questions related to treatment together with an assessment of general and cancer-specific HRQoL. Results: On average, socially isolated women were more adversely affected by breast cancer - their role function was lower by 14 points, vitality lower by 7 points, and physical function lower by 6 points compared to the most socially integrated women. Conclusion: Prediagnosis level of social integration is an important factor in future HRQoL among breast cancer survivors, and appears to explain more of the variance in HRQoL than treatment or tumor characteristics. Rehabilitation programs should incorporate interventions that address the availability of adequate social support among breast cancer survivors.

KW - Breast cancer

KW - Health-related quality of life

KW - SF-36

KW - Social networks

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EP - 293

JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research

IS - 5

ER -

Social networks and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors: A prospective study

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