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Support networks used by African American breast cancer support group participants.

Article Excerpt
Abstract: Informal and formal support networks are used by women to cope with the physical and psychological consequences of breast cancer. This study explored the support networks used by 43 southeastern United States African American women who participated in African American breast cancer support groups. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. African American women were found to rely more on God for support than either family or friends. Health care professionals and Internet use was reported less often as a source of support among these women. We conclude that support group use does not decrease African American women's strong reliance on God as a source of support.

Key Words: African American Women, Breast Cancer, Support Groups, Social Support Networks

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Among African American women, approximately 20,000 new cases of breast cancer will occur and 5,700 will die from breast cancer in 2003 (American Cancer Society, 2003). Mortality rates are 28% higher for African American women with breast cancer than Caucasian women (Ghafoor et al., 2002). Due to the physical and emotional impact of breast cancer, women often develop an increased need for social support (Dirksen, 2000; Lugton, 1997; Samarel et al., 1998). Social support is often lacking and inadequate for African American women with breast cancer (Ashing-Giwa & Ganz, 1997; Moore, 2001).

Inadequate social support is associated with difficult adjustment to (Brady & Helgeson, 1999; Samarel et al., 1998) and poorer survival from breast cancer (Reynolds et al., 1994). Informal support networks of family and friends and formal support networks such as support groups assist women to cope with the challenges of breast cancer (Helgeson, Cohen, Schulz, & Yasko, 2000; Koopman et al., 2001; Stevens & Duttlinger, 1998). Informal support networks are found to be essential to the adjustment of breast cancer among African American women; however, it is not easy for African American women to communicate their diagnosis of breast cancer with family members or friends (Ashing-Giwa & Ganz, 1997; Henderson, Gore, Davis & Condon, in press; Wilmoth & Sanders, 2001).

In the few studies that compare the breast cancer experience among African American women and Caucasian women, differences are found in the type of support used by these ethnic/racial groups in coping with breast cancer (Bourjolly & Hirschman, 2001; Fogel, Albert, Schnabel, Ditkoff, & Neugut, 2003; Reynolds et al., 2000). Seeking social support is a coping strategy used most frequently by both African American women and Caucasian women to cope with breast cancer (Bourjolly & Hirschman, 2001; Fogel et al., 2003). However, when compared to Caucasian women with breast cancer, African American women report receiving more support from God than family members or friends (Bourjolly & Hirschman, 2001).

Studies show that African American women with breast cancer receive insufficient information and support from their health care professionals to help them through the breast cancer experience (Ashing-Giwa & Ganz, 1997; Henderson et al., in press). Minority women are found to use the Internet to obtain a sense of support from others to cope with breast cancer (Fogel et al., 2003). Support groups are also helpful to those coping with breast cancer (Helgeson et al., 2000; Samarel, Fawcett, & Tulman, 1997; Samarel et al., 1998). However, cancer support groups are used more often by Caucasians than African Americans (Barg & Gullatte, 2001; Guidry, Aday,...

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