The examination of cancer patients perceived social support and time perspectives with socio-demographic variables

This study?s aim is to explore the changes in time perspective (TP) related to perceived social support (SS) and to the demographics of cancer patients. This study?s sample is constituted by 77 cancer patients who were getting chemotherapy at Europe Florence Nightingale Research and Practice Hospital?s Bedii Gorbon Cancer Unit and accepted to contribute in this research. For measures, short version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, Multi Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and a socio-demographic form that is constructed by the researcher, are used. The data is collected by the researcher herself via interviews from three groups of cancer patients during different phases of chemotherapy: First, middle and the last session. The data is examined by correlation, crosstabs, chi-square and one-way ANOVA statistics. According to the findings of this study, a relationship between perceived SS and past positive TP is found. Between present fatalistic TP and age; past negative TP, present fatalistic TP with number of children the patients have; perceived SS and gender, economic status, cancer site; perceived SS from someone special and gender; perceived SS from family and education level, chemotherapy session variables are significantly related. The high means of the future TP and perceived SS values are thought to be important. This study is carried out as a master thesis and the results are discussed accordingly. It is concluded by highlighting the major importance of perceived SS in healthy functioning one more time.