Changes in Social Relationships after Participation in a Group Intervention for Japanese Patients with Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Studies of group interventions on social relationships among patients with cancer have suggested that such interventions can increase patients' social support and help build social support networks, which are expected to reduce the sense of loneliness among them. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the relationships between participation in group therapy and social relationships among patients with cancer. Seven participants with various types of cancer participated in group therapy and were interviewed at a medical institution in Japan. They were asked about changes in their social relationships after being affected with cancer and taking part in group therapy. We conducted qualitative analysis and identified 11 categories related to changes in social relationships after being diagnosed with cancer (e.g. “shrinkage or lack of social networks, weakening of density”). Six categories related to changes in social relations after taking part in group therapy were identified (e.g. “expanding support networks and increasing density”). The findings suggest that participation in group therapy may supplement the social relationships of patients with cancer who have experienced a reduction in, or insufficiency of, social relationships. In particular, we suggest that participants in group therapy might be receiving emotional/informational support and companionship from the other participants, including patients with the same disease, and from the medical staff.