Frames of Peer Support: Perceptions of Peer Support Among Men With Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer significantly impacts the lives of those diagnosed, causing emotional and psychological distress, including fear, uncertainty, and anxiety. While formal peer support has been suggested as a beneficial way for men to share their experiences, little is known about the perspectives of those who choose not to participate in such activities. This study aims to explore how those men with prostate cancer who have not engaged in formal peer support perceive and describe peer support before and after participating in a supervised exercise group. This study is part of an exercise intervention research project involving men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The data consists of the individual interviews of 15 men in an intervention group who participated in supervised gym sessions with peers. The intervention did not include formal, institutionally organised peer support. Semistructured interviews were conducted three times: before, immediately after and 3 months after the group exercises. The interviews were analysed using frame analysis. The participants described peer support through five distinct frames: taking distance and highlighting individuality, existing social networks, daily activities, extended peer support, and fellowship and voluntary sharing. Before exercising in the group, the participants had often distanced themselves from formal peer support, emphasised their ability to cope independently and relied on existing social networks. After the group exercises, they still viewed formal peer support negatively but nonetheless perceived the exercise group as a low-threshold meeting place where informal peer support occurred naturally through shared activities. The study suggests that while formal peer support may not appeal to all men with prostate cancer, alternative models that incorporate shared activities and informal interactions can provide meaningful support. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring peer support options to accommodate diverse needs and preferences, potentially improving the well-being of men with prostate cancer.