PARTNERS AND FELLOW PATIENTS - 2 SOURCES OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER

This study examined the helping process that occurred when 26 breast c ancer patients (the disclosers) talked about their illness-related con cerns with their partner and, in a separate conversation, with a fello w patient (the volunteer helpers). The conversations were rated by tra ined observers and by the disclosers in terms of several process and o utcome variables. From the observers' perspective, the volunteer helpe rs were move helpful, empathic and supportive, less critical, and used more self-disclosure than the partners. Disclosers did nor differenti ate between the two types of helper and gave generally high ratings to both conversations. Strengths and weaknesses of each type of helper w ere identified Findings are discussed in relation to the literature on formal and informal helping, and implications for training nonprofess ional helpers are suggested.