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Exploring the Social Needs and Challenges of Chinese American Immigrant Breast Cancer Survivors: a Qualitative Study Using an Expressive Writing Approach

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Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about the psychological well-being and social barriers among immigrant Chinese American breast cancer survivors. The aim of the present study was to explore the social needs and challenges of Chinese American immigrant breast cancer survivors.

Method

This study used the expressive writing approach to explore the experiences among 27 Chinese American breast cancer survivors. The participants were recruited through community-based organizations in Southern California, most of whom were diagnosed at stages I and II (33 and 48%, respectively). Participants, on average, had been living in the USA for 19 years. Participants were asked to write three 20-min essays related to their experience with breast cancer (in 3 weeks). Participants’ writings were coded with line-by-line analysis, and categories and themes were generated.

Results

Emotion suppression, self-stigma, and perceived stigma about being a breast cancer survivor were reflected in the writings. Interpersonally, participants indicated their reluctance to disclose cancer diagnosis to family and friends and concerns about fulfilling multiple roles. Some of them also mentioned barriers of communicating with their husbands. Related to life in the USA, participants felt unfamiliar with the healthcare system and encountered language barriers.

Conclusion

Counseling services addressing concerns about stigma and communication among family members may benefit patients’ adjustments. Tailor-made information in Chinese about diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer and health insurance in the USA may also help patients go through the course of recovery.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the American Cancer Society MRSGT-10-011-01-CPPB (PI: Qian Lu).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Krystal Warmoth

    Present address: Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

  2. Jin You

    Present address: Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

  3. Nelson C. Y. Yeung

    Present address: Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Culture and Health Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Fred J. Heyne Building, Room 126, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5022, USA

    Krystal Warmoth, Bernice Cheung, Jin You, Nelson C. Y. Yeung & Qian Lu

Authors
  1. Krystal Warmoth
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  2. Bernice Cheung
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  3. Jin You
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  4. Nelson C. Y. Yeung
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  5. Qian Lu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qian Lu.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee, and the authors’ institutional ethics committee approved the study.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the expressive writing parent study.

Funding

This study was supported by the American Cancer Society MRSGT-10-011-01-CPPB (PI: Qian Lu).

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Warmoth, K., Cheung, B., You, J. et al. Exploring the Social Needs and Challenges of Chinese American Immigrant Breast Cancer Survivors: a Qualitative Study Using an Expressive Writing Approach. Int.J. Behav. Med. 24, 827–835 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9661-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9661-4

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