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

Abstract

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 (β = −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.