The Relationship Between Social Support and Depression in Patients with Breast Cancer

Introduction: The relationship between social support and depression can have implications for the outcome of breast cancer treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine social support and its relation to depression in women with breast cancer. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study performed in Tabriz in 2018. A total of 240 patients with breast cancer who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Beck Depression Inventory were used for research purposes. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the two variables. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 63% of women had moderate to severe depression, and mean ± SD of total social support score was 40.29 ± 11.99. Spearman’s correlation results indicated a negative relationship between depression and social support (r = -512, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of moderate to severe depression in the current study sample was high (63%), which is consistent with similar studies. On the other hand, women with below average depression had higher perceived social support score, and the correlation between these variables was statistically significant.