Mediating Role of Affective Experiences in the Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Life Satisfaction among Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer leads to many situations that may threaten the psychosocial integrity including changes in patients' personal paths of life including their daily activities, work, relationships, and family roles, and is associated with a high level of patients' psychological stress. This leads to a lack of social or personal control, progressive physical deterioration and the thoughts of near death.[1] The social behavior of women is also affected, leading to restrictions on their social lives and changes in daily life activities, facts that may contribute to depressive behavior and social isolation. Considerable empirical evidence substantiates the importance of social networks and social support to health and well-being among the elderly. Social support refers to mechanisms through which interpersonal relationships protect people from the detrimental effects of stress. It is a key for any individual's emotional safety. The main sources of social support are the spouse, family, friends, neighbors, and other individuals who inter-relate and provide reciprocal support. Considerable evidence links social support with increased health-promoting behavior[2] such as dietary habits, physical activity, smoking habits, alcohol intake, and adherence to medical regimens.[34]

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the scientific study of well-being and positive aspects of mental health[567] and although theoretical models differ in how they define optimal well-being, they all agree that deep and meaningful close relationships play a vital role in human flourishing. A large body of empirical work shows that people who are more socially integrated and who experience more supportive and rewarding relationships with others have better mental health, higher levels of subjective well-being (SWB) and lower rates of morbidity and mortality.[89] Unfortunately, the mechanisms linking close relationships to health and SWB are not well understood. Most of the empirical work linking relationships to health and well-being conceptualizes social relations in terms of individual's general reports of their marital status, social networks social integration and perceived social support (PSS).[910] As a result, we know little about how relationships promote or hinder well-being.

Subjective well-being (SWB), people's cognitive and affective evaluations of their lives, has been an important research area in positive psychology. It is thought to comprise of a cognitive-judgmental domain reflecting life satisfaction (LS) and an emotional evaluation characterized by positive and negative affect, has been linked to the affective domain of SWB.[11] For example, research has demonstrated that happy individuals tend to have larger social rewards, better work outcomes, greater coping abilities, better immune system, to be more cooperative, pro-social and charitable, having satisfying social support and to live longer than individuals who are not happy.[12]

There is strong evidence for the main effects model of social support indicating that strong relationships promote well-being not just as a resource in times of adversity but also by enabling individuals to fully participate in life's opportunities for growth, development in the absence of adversity and satisfaction with life. Consistent with previous research, we found that the different forms of SWB were differentially related to the facets of social support. Specifically, LS was predicted by enacted and perceived support, positive affect was predicted by family embeddedness and provided support, and negative affect was predicted by perceived support.[13]

Perceived support refers to the expectation that support will be provided rather than referring to specific instances in which one has received support. In general, perceptions of the availability of social support have been linked to better outcomes during times of stress.[14] Women with breast cancer sometimes report a lack of balance is perceived when support requested is not provided or when the support provided was not the support sought. Perception of reduced support may be linked to a certain incompatibility between the patient's real needs and the support provided.[15] High levels of anxiety and distress and low positive emotional experiences tend to reduce as one's perception of social support experienced by women undergoing breast cancer treatment due to psychosocial changes. In some cases, women may even elucidate the reception of support as personal incompetence. Distress and depression accruing from the treatment side effects together with perceived support, may affect the psychosocial adjustment of women with breast cancer. In regards to the cognitive-judgmental component of SWB, Newsom and Schulz[16] found that greater PSS was correlated with higher LS and linked to fewer depressive symptoms in older adults.

Several empirical studies have been carried out, indicating that social support was closely associated with affective experience.[1718] Positive feelings reflect the degree to which an individual feels energetic, enthusiastic, cheerful, active and alive and negative affect is depicted as a condition of discontentment, not being joyful, or subjective distress including such feelings of anger, hate, weariness, shame fear and irritation.[19] Affective (emotional) experience could mediate the impact of social support on LS,[20] which implies that the social network and affective meditation models are interdependent. Yet the specific pathways through which perceived support promote optimal well being is not well understood. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies to investigate the relationships between PSS and LS through mediating factor like positive and negative experiences.

Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to propose and test a conceptual model that explains the interrelationships among those factors to provide a theoretical foundation for identifying the specific interpersonal processes that underlie the effects of close relationships on LS. The secondary purpose was to examine the mediating role of positive and negative affective (emotional) experiences in the relationship between PSS and LS. Based on the previous literature, a conceptual model was created that explains the interrelationships among PSS LS and affective experiences [Figure 1]. To test the validity of the model, we addressed the six research hypotheses on which it relies:

1. PSS will have positive direct effect on LS among Indian breast cancer patients

2. PSS will enhance positive affect among Indian breast cancer patients

3. PSS will reduce negative affective experiences among Indian breast cancer patients

4. Positive affective experiences will enhance LS among Indian breast cancer patients

5. Negative experiences will reduce LS among Indian breast cancer patients

6. Positive and Negative experiences will serve as a mediator in the relationship between PSS and LS.

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Figure 1

Illustration of hypothetical model of mediation

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The hypothesis model for this study is shown in [Figure 1].

METHODS

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics (mean and SD) was performed to assess the mean of self-reported accounts of PSS, Positive and Negative Experiences and LS. Means, SDs and minimum and maximum scores for each variable are located in Table 2.

Mediation model

Two mediation models were analyzed in this study, examining the relationship between PSS and dimensions of SWB. The first mediation model examined the indirect effect of positive emotional experiences on the relationship between PSS and LS. While the second mediation model examined the indirect effect of negative emotional experiences on the relationship between PSS and LS. Depictions of all mediation models are included in Figure 2a and b.

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Figure 2

Illustration of mediation between perceived social support and life satisfaction by both (a) Positive affect and (b) Negative affect. Data values are unstandardized regression beta for specific pathways. PSS: Perceived social support, LS: Life satisfaction, PA: Positive affect, NA: Negative affect. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01

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All models were analyzed using Preacher and Hayes'[33] mediation approach. Again Preacher and Hayes'[33] mediation approach is a non-parametric, bootstrapping technique that offers more statistically powerful and accurate results when compared against the traditional approach to mediation modelling. The bootstrapping procedures in SPSS Process macro from the mediation model 4 were used to test the significance of the indirect effects of social support on LS through the mediation of affect balance.[33] Following the recommendations of Shrout and Bolger,[34] we generated 1000 samples from the original dataset (N = 100) via random sampling. If the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the outcome of the mediation effect did not contain zero, then the mediation effect would be significant at the 0.05 level.

In the first model, the unstandardized point estimate of the indirect effect was 0.304, 99% CI = 0.220 to 0.400. The direct effect between PSS and LS became insignificant (t = 0.415; P > 0.05 after accounting for the indirect effect of Positive affective experiences indicating moderate indirect effect. In the second model, the unstandardized point estimate of the indirect effect was 0.089, 99% CI = 0.29–0.18. The direct effect between PSS and LS remained significant (t = 3.41, P < 0.01) even after accounting for the indirect effects of negative emotional experiences, indicating partial mediation.

As shown in Figure 2a, the total effect (β = 0.331, P < 0.01) from PSS to LS was at a significant level (Step 1). Moreover, the direct path from PSS to Positive experiences (β = 0.358, P < 0.01) was significant (Step 2). Meanwhile, the path from the mediator, namely, positive affect (β = 0.847, P < 0.01) to LS was significant (Step 3). However, after inserting mediator in model, the direct path from social support to LS became insignificant (β = 0.027, P > 0.01) (Step 4). Moreover, the mediating variable (positive experiences) was observed to exert a mediating effect on the relationship between PSS and LS.

Similarly, as given in Figure 2b, the total effect (β = 0.334, P < 0.01) from PSS to LS was at a significant level (Step 1). Moreover, the direct path from PSS to Negative experiences (β = −0.251, P < 0.01) was significant (Step 2). Meanwhile, path from the mediator, namely, Negative affect (β = −0.357, P < 0.01) to LS was significant (Step 3). Even after inserting mediator in model, the direct path from PSS to LS remained significant (β = 0.241, P < 0.01) (Step 4). Moreover, the mediating variable (positive experiences) was observed to exert a partially mediating effect on the relationship between PSS and LS.

DISCUSSION

The overarching goal of the current study was to examine how cancer patients generate pathways to LS. Given this goal, the current study sought to answer the following questions. (a) Does significant relationship exist between self-reports of PSS and facets of SWB (affective experiences and LS). (b) Does significant relationship exist between different facets of SWB (Affective experiences and LS). (c) Does positive and negative emotional experiences mediate the relationship between PSS and LS?

Bivariate correlations were analyzed to determine the relationships between PSS, affective experiences and LS. The results revealed significant positive relationship between PSS and LS. These results suggest that cancer patients who report more social support are more likely to have satisfaction with their life. This result is consistent with previous findings[35] and supporting first hypothesis of the present study. To explain this finding, it must be said that those people who perceive receiving high social support evaluate themselves as competent and successful in terms of interpersonal relations.[36] These evaluations have effects on the emergence of positive evaluations of life in people. In addition, perceived support may increase one's coping competence by providing comfort that supports are available if needed. Certain psychological characteristics like optimism, future orientation and perceived control, promote and maintain overall satisfaction with life.[37]

The relationship between PSS and Positive and Negative emotional experiences clearly showed that PSS was highly correlated with positive experiences (r = 0.598, P < 0.01). However, negative experiences (r = −0.420, P <.01) were inversely related to PSS. These findings favored second and third hypothesis. Previous research also reveals that positive affect has positive relationship with social support[3839] and a negative relation with stress.[40] Meanwhile, negative affect has a negative relationship with social support.[1741] Studies examining the facets of social support evidenced that positive affect was predicted by family embeddedness and provided support, while the decreased negative affect was predicted by perceived support.[13]

Findings of the mediation analysis indicated that PSS not only have direct effects on LS but also indirect effects that are mediated by positive and negative affective experiences. These results provide compelling support for the mediation hypothesis indicating that perception of support received by cancer patients during and after treatment is important in explaining LS of patients. Furthermore, beneficial effects stem from an increased level of positive feelings.

More specifically, positive emotional experiences fully mediated the relationship between PSS and LS. Further, negative emotional experiences partially mediated this relationship. From these findings we speculate that breast cancer patients perceive high support from their spouse, family, friends, and surroundings when they experience positive feelings from social relations. In other words, positive feelings serve as a catalyst to enhance LS of cancer patients. The findings of this study share some similarities with studies of.[4243] The results are also in line with positive psychological theory which emphasizes the importance of examining how positive psychological variables (e.g. resilience, positive affect, interpersonal connectedness) may serve to preserve and promote mental health and positive psychological outcomes.[44] However, negative affect being related to neuroticism[1945] and the tendency of individuals with negative affect to be introverted may lead these individuals to be less involved in social interactions, and in turn, let them perceive less social support. It could also be said that patients with high negative feelings may perceive social support less due to a more limited interaction compared to normal healthy individuals. This condition may reflect negatively on LS decreasing function of PSS. For example, Çivitci[46] posited that negative affect has a buffer role against the stress decreasing function of social support.

As a result, it can be understood from the findings of the present study that the relation between social support and LS is more susceptible to positive affect, and with the increase in positive affect the complementary function of social support for LS increases. The current study is significantly important in revealing the limitation of the complementary function of social support. Moreover, in the case of intense experiences of negative feelings by breast cancer patients such as anxiety depression and loneliness the insufficiency of social support indicates that the patient needs psychological care also. When social support is perceived insufficient, preventive and intervening studies counselling and guidance centres, as well as psychological consultations, may help for necessary support.

In summary, this study extended insights into the complex interactions among social support, affective experiences and LS of Indian breast cancer patients. The important path from perceived support to affect to LS determines the internal mechanism between social support and LS. The results of the current study can provide valuable guidance in implementing psychological interventions to improve LS and other psychological functioning of cancer patients. Improving perceived support among cancer patients can be used as a complementary therapy to help such people to improve their LS. It can also be used as an active therapy to help them manipulate the impact of affective balance to improve their LS.

However, the current study has several limitations. First, the data in this study were collected only through self-report measures, which could be a threat to internal validity. To reduce the impact of subjectivity, multiple assessment methods should be used for assessment. Second, the cross-sectional design of this study does not make cause-effect inferences. Future research may test the mediation model of using longitudinal or experimental studies. Third, the results of the current research are based on the 2D measure of affect balance. In future studies, PSS must be examined in different facets. Other possible mediating factors, such as loneliness, self-esteem and happiness, must also be explored. Finally, the sample in the current study was obtained from the population of breast cancer. Thus, whether the current findings can be generalized to other cancer population groups as well as other life-threatening disease population groups requires further investigation.

CONCLUSION

The current study provides an empirical framework for the researchers through testing the mediating effects of affective experiences between social support and LS in a sample of Indian breast cancer patients. In consideration of the probable mechanisms, it can be stated that the study has an interesting premise that the proximal cause of LS is not the direct effect of PSS but instead that PSS causes positive affect to exceed negative affect, which then causes LS to increase. These findings may help to design effective psychological interventions aimed at improving social support and affective balance in cancer patients. Attitudes such as involving the partner and the family in treatment, so they become aware of the problems women with breast cancer face, educating women concerning the importance of social support, teaching them to ask for help and discuss their needs, are exercises of social support.