Suddenly, a Carriage Appears: Social Support Needs of Latina Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Through focus groups and individual interviews, data were gathered on the emotional, informational, and instrumental support needs of 22 immigrant Latina women. A thematic analysis revealed that participants who perceived to receive social support reported less psychological distress and better adjustment to breast cancer than those who did not perceive this support. Types and sources of support varied across survivorship stages. Many needs were related to financial, linguistic, and cultural barriers participants encountered in the course of the disease. Based on the findings, we conclude with several clinical recommendations to improve the quality of life in this medically underserved population.

Calidad de Vida y Cáncer de Mama: Efectos de una Intervención Cognitivo-Conductual

“…Algunas intervenciones psicosociales sugieren un efecto positivo del apoyo social, el cambio de cogniciones y conductas y la información de apoyo (Galván, Buki, & Garcés, 2009;Matthews & Cook, 2009). Otros estudios, con participantes socio-demográficamente "normales" buscan limitar el deterioro por dolor fí-sico, mejorar actividades cotidianas, tolerar efectos colaterales del tratamiento, implantar conductas de cuidado de su salud, reducir la ansiedad anticipatoria de recaídas y manejo de la pérdida del apoyo social (Costanzo, et al, 2007).…”

Santeria as an Informal Psychosocial Support Among Latinas Living with Cancer

“…Evidence suggests that most oncology patients require assistance and encouragement in seeking and utilizing mental health services for their psychosocial needs (Moyer et al, 2009). The need for this assistance is exacerbated for Latinas whose access and use of mental health services is further limited and influenced by financial, linguistic, institutional, and cultural factors (Galvan et al, 2009).…”

“…There are also certain cultural characteristics found among Latinos that are "generally forgotten by or are unknown to mental health specialists who have received classical training" (Ruiz & Langrod, 1976, p. 393). The limited availability of support and negligible quality from formal sources (i.e., mental health professional, support groups, research clinical trials, and community organizations) results in 1) Latinas' decreased awareness and access to key information that can promote health adjustment to cancer and 2) Latinas overall underutilization of mental health treatment (Carpenter-Song, Whitley, Lawson, Quimby, & Drake, 2011;Galvan et al, 2009;Institute of Medicine, 2002).…”

“…Latina oncology patients are less likely than non-minority patients to 1) access and 2) receive quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate formalized psychosocial services, which complicates the identification of their psychosocial needs (Ashing-Giwa, 2008;Galvan et al, 2009;Napoles-Springer et al, 2009) Moreover, cultural beliefs such as 1) reluctance to discuss emotional problems and personal feelings with strangers and 2) viewing psychosocial support as services for the mentally ill have been found to deter ethnic minorities from accessing psychosocial care and further prevent the psychosocial needs of Latinas from being met through formal mental health services (Ashing-Giwa et al, 2004;NapolesSpringer et al, 2009).…”

“…Latinas, however, are more unlikely than other demographic groups to access culturally and linguistically appropriate formal mental health services (i.e., support groups, counseling, etc.) for their psychosocial sequelae needs (Ashing-Giwa, 2008;Galvan, Buki, & Garces, 2009;Comas-Diaz, 2013;Napoles-Springer et al, 2009). …”