| As the literature has consistently demonstrated that individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer are at much greater risk of developing symptoms of clinical depression---and that approximately twenty-five to forty percent of all cancer patients develop symptoms of depression at some time following their diagnosis (e.g., Grassi, et al., 1997; McDaniels, et al., 1995; Mermelstein & Lesko, 1992)---it is expected that between twenty-five and forty percent of this project's sample of men with prostate cancer will demonstrate symptoms of clinical depression as measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Consistent with this literature (Grassi, et al., 1997; McDaniels, et al., 1995; Mermelstein & Lesko, 1992), it is also expected that the between twenty-five and forty percent of this project's sample of women with breast cancer will demonstrate symptoms of clinical depression as measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D).;Given that poor social support has consistently been shown to be related to higher levels of depression (Hoskins, et al., 1996; Manne, et al., 1997; Pistrang, Barker & Rutter, 1997; Smith, et al., 1985), it is hypothesized that a significant inverse relationship will be evidenced between perceived social support as measured by the PSS-Fr/PSS-Fa and depression as measured by the CES-D for this sample.;As it has been suggested in the literature that men with cancer tend to experience more barriers to mobilizing social support than do women (Balder et al., 1995; Hann, 2002; Harrison, Maguire & Pitceathly, 1995; Zakowski, et al., 2003), it is expected that the sample of men with prostate cancer in this project will demonstrate significantly lower levels of social support as measured by the Perceived Social Support-Friends and Family Scale (PSS-Fr/PSS-Fa) in comparison to the sample of women with breast cancer sample.;It is hypothesized that men with prostate cancer may be more vulnerable to the development of symptoms of depression than women with breast cancer (who do not share the same barriers to accessing adequate social support). Thus it is expected that the sample of men with prostate cancer in this study will demonstrate significantly higher levels of depression as measured by the CES-D than the sample of women with breast cancer.;An analysis will also be conducted to determine whether there are gender differences in the relationship between social support and depression.;Finally, a qualitative analysis will be performed for the information gathered from the sample of men with prostate cancer regarding their level of interest in support groups, and whether or not there are barriers (beyond lack of perceived need) to accessing this support. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
