Family Interaction Patterns and Their Association With Family Support Among Women With Breast Cancer

Background: Family support often plays a major role in helping women accept, cope with, and recover from breast cancer, and yet its association with specific family interaction patterns among racially diverse women facing breast cancer has been insufficiently examined. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine what specific family interaction patterns exist among diverse women with breast cancer and determine if these family interaction patterns are significantly associated with levels of perceived family support and family support satisfaction reported by these women. Methods: Participants were 73 white women and 18 African American women with breast cancer. Results: Three different family interaction patterns were identified (ie, cohesive-expressive, conflictual, and nonexpressive). Also, (a) the African American women in cohesive-expressive families versus conflictual families were more satisfied with their emotional family support, (b) the non-Hispanic white women in conflictual families versus nonexpressive families perceived that they received significantly more tangible family support, and (c) the non-Hispanic white women in cohesive-expressive families and those in conflictual families perceived that they received significantly more emotional support from their family members than did non-Hispanic white women in nonexpressive families. Conclusions: Three main family interaction patterns were found among African American and non-Hispanic white women with breast cancer, which were associated with levels of satisfaction with family support or perceived family support. Implications for Practice: Findings from this study can be used to (a) more accurately assess the levels of satisfaction with family support experienced by diverse women with breast cancer and (b) implement family interventions to increase family support for these women.