Social interaction and support related to mood and locus of control in cervical and endometrial cancer patients and their spouses

The purpose of the study was to investigate possible relationships between quantitative and qualitative social support measures and mood in cervical ( n=30) and endometrial (n=30) cancer patients and their spouses before and a fter treatment. Furthermore, the experience of locus of control was studied in light of mood and social support in women after treatment. The first in terview with the patients was conducted on the day before the women scarred treatment, a second interview. 6 months later and a third one, 12-15 month s after the initiation of treatment. The interviews with the spouses were c onducted on the telephone before the initiation of their partners' treatmen t and 12-15 months later. Social support was assessed by the Interview Sche dule for Social Interaction (ISSI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure the level of depressive symptomatology, and the locus of c ontrol orientation was assessed by the Locus of Control (LOC) scale. Women with cervical cancer reported BDI values that were significantly higher tha n in the endometrial group both before and after treatment. Women with cerv ical cancer also showed a significantly higher level on the BDI score on bo th occasions than did the corresponding group of spouses. The scores for IS SI were within normal limits in both groups of women. Furthermore, LOC was significantly correlated with adequacy of social interaction in women when controlled for social desirability, whereas LOC was unrelated to BDI. No si gnificant correlations were found among the spouses concerning social netwo rk variables and dysphoric mood. The necessity of developing models for the psychological and behavioural risk assessment and for the elaboration of a dequate treatment strategies is emphasized.