Association between percieved social support and depression in cancer outpatients

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between perceived social support and depression in male and female cancer patients. 50 cancer patients [25 males and 25 females] from lower socioeconomic class who were under treatment in different hospitals and clinics of Karachi, Pakistan were tested. Subjects were requested to fill the demographic form and were briefly interviewed. The Multi dimensional Scale for Perceived Social Support [Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, and Parley, 1988] and Siddiqui-Shah Depression Scale [Siddiqui and Shah, 1997] were administered to measure perceived social support and level of depression respectively in participants. Pearson product correlation coefficient and z-test was applied to explain the data in statistical terminology. Results shows that lower the social support, higher would be the depression [r= -.347, p< .05]. No difference was found between correlation of social support and depression among male and female cancer patients