Relationship Between Perceived Social Support, Resilience, and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Among Cancer Survivors: A Structural Equation Study

This study examined the relationship between perceived social support and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in individuals who have survived cancer. A cross-sectional correlational design was utilized, involving 210 cancer survivors recruited from a tertiary oncology center in Türkiye between March and July 2023. Participants were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Patient Descriptive Data Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI). Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping methods were employed to test the hypothesized mediation model. Higher perceived social support was associated with greater psychological resilience (β = 0.359, p < 0.01) and lower FCR (β = − 0.305, p < 0.01). Resilience was negatively associated with FCR (β = − 0.533, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis indicated an indirect association consistent with psychological resilience acting as a mediator between perceived social support and FCR (indirect effect β = − 0.239, 95% CI [− 0.369, − 0.139], p = 0.002). Model fit indices suggested an acceptable fit (CMIN/DF = 1.618, CFI = 0.927, RMSEA = 0.054). Psychological resilience may partly account for the association between perceived social support and fear of recurrence among cancer survivors. Strengthening both resilience and social support may help mitigate FCR within survivorship care. Targeted psychosocial interventions that aim to enhance perceived social support and resilience may help to alleviate fear of cancer recurrence and support survivors’ psychological adjustment.