CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT (HELP SEEKING, BREAST CANCER).
Contributors: University of Arizona.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 414
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Social.; Psychology, Physiological.
Description: The purpose of this study was to contribute to the clarification of the phenomenon, social support, using a precise definition and a major theoretical perspective as a descriptive guide for the concept, structure; one of the three less abstract representations of social support. Social comparison theory provided the guiding framework for interpretation of how structure relates to help-seeking behavior.

Data from the Self-Help Intervention Project (SHIP), an experimental study of women undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer, were analyzed. A volunteer non-probability sample was comprised of 307 subjects, Time 1 (baseline), and all 59 of the 307 subjects (Time 2) who were randomly assigned to the control group (no intervention). A descriptive correlational design with a causal modeling approach was used to assess a four stage conceptual framework: Help-Seeking in Adversity Model. Model predictions were that the individual's innate drive leads to self-appraisal and social comparison which are negatively associated with discrepancy judgement, which is positively associated with help-seeking behavior. Measures similarity perceived/similarity actual were constructed to index the model variable, social comparison. Reliability estimates (two total scales) were.75 and.72, respectively. Validity was assessed by face validity and statistically significant pattern of correlations with other variables. Six instruments indexed the conceptual variables. Model parameters were estimated by bivariate and multiple regression statistical techniques. Residual analysis was conducted to estimate violations of causal model and statistical assumptions.

Self-appraisal, measured by mastery (B = $-$.41), and self-belief (B = $-$.22) and social comparison, measured by similarity actual (B =.27) explained variance in discrepancy judgement (R$\sp2$ =.33), Time 1. Only self-appraisal, measured by mastery (B = $-$.34) was found to reduce discrepancy judgement, Time 2. Discrepancy judgement was associated with increases in three of the four measures of help-seeking behavior (B =.12, R$\sp2$ =.01; B =.19, R$\sp2$ =.03; B =.17, R$\sp2$ =.03), Time 1; no variance was explained, Time 2. Empirical testings differed from theoretical testings (Time 1, Time 2). Differences included (Time 1) Stage II variable explaining help-seeking behavior and (Time 2) only Stage II variables explaining help-seeking behavior. This study represents a beginning effort to provide clarification of the concept, structure.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-03, Section: B, page: 1715.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, 1995.

School code: 0009.