Social Support Buffers the Effect of Social Deprivation on Comorbidity Burden in Adults with Cancer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adults with cancer have higher rates of comorbidity compared to those without cancer, with excess burden in people from lower socioeconomic status (SES). Social deprivation, based on geographic indices, broadens the focus of SES to include the importance of "place" and its association with health. Further, social support is a modifiable resource found to have direct and indirect effects on health in adults with cancer, with less known about its impact on comorbidity. PURPOSE: We prospectively examined associations between social deprivation and comorbidity burden and the potential buffering role of social support. METHODS: Our longitudinal sample of 420 adults (Mage = 59.6, SD = 11.6; 75% Non-Hispanic White) diagnosed with cancer completed measures at baseline (~6 months post-diagnosis) and four subsequent 3-month intervals for 1 year. RESULTS: Adjusting for age, cancer type, and race/ethnicity, we found a statistically significant interaction between social support and the effect of social deprivation on comorbidity burden (ß = -0.11, p = 0.012), such that greater social support buffered the negative effect of social deprivation on comorbidity burden. CONCLUSION: Implementing routine screening for social deprivation in cancer care settings can help identify patients at risk of excess comorbidity burden. Clinician recognition of these findings could trigger a referral to social support resources for individuals high on social deprivation.

This study examines the complex interplay among neighborhood-level deprivation, social support, and comorbidity burden in adults diagnosed with cancer. We know that individuals with cancer often face health challenges, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This research expands the scope beyond just income or education level to include the impact of "place" or social deprivation on health outcomes. The study followed 420 adults diagnosed with cancer over the course of a year, examining how social deprivation and social support influenced their comorbidity burden. Interestingly, findings suggest that social support can act as a buffer against the negative effects of social deprivation on comorbidity burden. These results highlight the importance of considering not only just medical treatment but also the social context in which patients live when managing cancer care. Identifying patients at risk of increased comorbidity burden due to social deprivation and providing them with appropriate social support resources could significantly improve their overall health.