Author: Ikhlas Attoun
The study aimed to investigate psychological pressure and its relation with social support among breast cancer patients. The study approached the literature as a multi-dimensional phenomenon, which addressed both theoretical and applied research. The significance of this recent study is the first, which dealt with this theme, to the author knowledge, which in turn encourages other researchers to work on further research on this important issue.
To achieve this end, the study adopted the quantitative research approach using the sampling survey method. The questionnaire is appropriate for the exploratory nature of the research, which consists of 38-items. The random purposive method was utilized which comprised of a sample size of (224) breast cancer patients at clinics of Jerusalem Governorate, Palestine. The collected data was statistically analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).
The results revealed that the breast cancer patients experienced a moderate level of psychological pressure and a high level of social support. The mean scores and standard deviation were (M 2.65 SD 0.68; M 4.15 SD 0.58) respectively. The study revealed the determinant effect of social support on decreasing the psychological pressure for breast cancer patients. It was found that when social support increases, psychological pressure decreases and vice versa.
The results of the study revealed significant statistical differences in psychological pressure among the patients due to educational level, marital status, and age. However, no statistical significant differences were found in the rest of the study variables that are, number of children. Additionally, the findings of the study revealed significant statistical differences in social support among the patients due to marital status, and age. However, no statistical significant differences were found in the rest of the study variables, that are, educational level, and number of children.
The above findings confirm the value of social support in decreasing the psychological pressure among the breast cancer patients, and recommend the need to provide health and mental health care of the breast cancer patients, especially in the beginning of the case discovery, taken into consideration the important role the women play in the society, that will not be shaken off through the high level of social support and solidarity in the Palestinian society; and finally, further research is essential in the area of psychological, social, and physical pressures among the cancer patients in general, and of the breast cancer patients in particular using the qualitative research design.
Keywords: Psychological pressure, social support, patients, breast cancer.
Ikhlas Attoun, MA. Psychological Counselling, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Al-Quds University, Main Campus, Jerusalem- Abu Dies, Palestine. Independent Researcher, Jerusalem, Palestine. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
