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Psychosocial protective interventions associated with a better quality of life and psychological wellbeing for African American/Black female breast cancer survivors: an integrative review

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Abstract

Purpose

This integrative review provides an overview of current psychosocial interventions and qualitative studies exploring African American Breast Cancer Survivors (AABCS)’ psychosocial wellbeing.

Methods

We conducted a search of five databases: PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed articles written in English and published from 2011 to May 26, 2021 were included. We critically appraised intervention studies and qualitative studies using established frameworks.

Results

Of the 633 unique studies identified, seven interventions and twenty-one qualitative studies were included. Analysis of the interventions revealed the importance of alleviating structural barriers and facilitating peer support for AABCS. Analysis of the qualitative studies revealed seven themes: (1) spirituality/religion, (2) social support, (3) cultural perceptions of BC, (4) lack of representation, (5) negative impacts of treatment, (6) healthcare system experience, and (7) barriers to psychosocial care.

Conclusions

This review highlights the dearth of psychosocial interventions created specifically for AABCS. The qualitative literature in this review elucidates the unique psychosocial challenges that AABCS experience, providing rich data to inform the creation of future culturally competent interventions in this population.

Implications for cancer survivors

This review found spirituality and social support to be protective factors for AABCS’ psychosocial wellbeing. Further research using rigorous methodologies is needed to further evaluate how to most effectively alleviate structural barriers that AABCS face in obtaining long-term support.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the University of Maryland’s Individual Studies Department, spearheaded by Dr. Joan Burton and Ms. Lori Praniewicz. We are grateful to the first author’s undergraduate thesis advisor, Dr. Natalie Slopen, for her constant guidance and support. We would also like to thank Dr. Joanna Arch, Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Suzanne O’Neill, Associate Professor at Georgetown University, and Ms. Thelma Jones, founder of the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund, for providing feedback for this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1151, USA

    Talya Gordon, Lena J. Lee & Alyssa T. Brooks

  2. William E. Kirwan Hall, STEM Library, University of Maryland, Room 2403K, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Nedelina Tchangalova

  3. Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Division of AIDS, Behavior, and Population Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA

    Alyssa T. Brooks

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  1. Talya Gordon
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  2. Lena J. Lee
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Contributions

All authors have made significant contributions to this integrative review. The study conception and design were initiated by T. Gordon. The literature search was performed by N. Tchangalova. Data selection and analysis were performed by T. Gordon, L. Lee, and A. Brooks. The first draft of the manuscript was written by T. Gordon. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lena J. Lee.

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This work was conducted as a part of Ms. Gordon’s undergraduate thesis in Biobehavioral Health at the University of Maryland.

This work was conducted while Dr. Brooks was an employee of the NIH Clinical Center (2020). As of January 2021, she is an employee of the NIH Center for Scientific Review.

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Gordon, T., Lee, L.J., Tchangalova, N. et al. Psychosocial protective interventions associated with a better quality of life and psychological wellbeing for African American/Black female breast cancer survivors: an integrative review. Support Care Cancer 30, 1093–1114 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06425-0

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