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The dynamic buffering of social support on depressive symptoms and cancer worries in patients seeking cancer genetic counseling

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Abstract

Purpose

Social support is a crucial protective factor against psychological concerns in patients with cancer. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the differential impacts of social support on cancer worries and depressive symptoms in patients undergoing genetic counseling for hereditary cancer. The current study utilized a high-volume database from a multi-site cancer genetics clinic to assess the impact of perceived social support on depressive symptoms and cancer worries among patients of different age groups (young versus older patients) and diagnosis status (diagnosed survivors versus undiagnosed).

Methods

6,666 patients completed brief assessments of depressive symptoms, cancer worries, social support, and demographic questionnaires as part of routine clinical care between October 2016 and October 2020. Logistics and moderated regression were used to analyze the relationships between social support, depressive symptoms, and cancer worries.

Results

Increased social support was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and fewer cancer worries across all patients. Social support mitigated depressive symptoms most significantly for young adult patients with and without cancer. Social support mitigated cancer worries most significantly for young adults with cancer and older adults without cancer.

Conclusions

While results were mixed, general findings upheld original hypotheses. Social support buffered depressive symptoms and cancer worries differentially for patients of different ages and different disease status.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Social support groups are beneficial for all patients and should be emphasized by cancer clinics. However, increasing patient-tailored and age-appropriate support networks will be crucial for managing depression and cancer worries for high-risk survivors: young adults with cancer.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

We have no funding source and competing interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute, Fort Worth, TX, USA

    Sally Ho, Jacqueline Mersch, W. Blake Martin & Laura Howe-Martin

  2. Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Jayme M. Palka, W. Blake Martin & Laura Howe-Martin

  3. Cancer Genetics Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Jacqueline Mersch

  4. UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA

    Jacqueline Mersch & Laura Howe-Martin

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and analysis were performed by Sally Ho and Jayme M. Palka. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Sally Ho. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript, read, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Laura Howe-Martin.

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Ho, S., Palka, J.M., Mersch, J. et al. The dynamic buffering of social support on depressive symptoms and cancer worries in patients seeking cancer genetic counseling. J Cancer Surviv (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-023-01479-x

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