Sources of social support and adjustment among Chinese cancer survivors: gender and age differences

Abstract Introduction Social support has shown to improve adjustment among cancer survivors. However, it is unclear how health benefits of social support depend on the source of support, age, and gender. Chinese culture emphasizes relationship harmony and interdependence, providing a unique opportunity to address these questions. This study investigated how support from different sources was associated with adjustment to cancer and how the association was moderated by gender and age. Methods Chinese cancer survivors (N =238) from Beijing completed a questionnaire packet assessing support from different sources (e.g., family, friends, special others, society, and cancer organization) and adjustment (e.g., quality of life and positive and negative affect)