Table 3.
Overview of the characteristics and attributes of social isolation defined in the studies included in the concept analysis.
| Author (year) | Country | Oncology population | Discipline | Design | Sample | Attributes: behaviors and states of social avoidance | Attributes: negative affective experiences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirtane et al. (2022) | United States | Head and neck cancer | Medicine | Qualitative study | 20 | Restricted social network | Distress |
| Takemura et al. (2021) | Japan | Lung cancer | Medicine | Prospective cohort study | 264 | Limitations with social networks (size, diversity, or frequency of contacts) | Feelings of loneliness |
| Liu B et al. (2021) and Liu Y et al. (2021) | China | Breast cancer | Medicine | Cross-sectional study | 389 | Restricted social network (contact, activity, communication) | |
| He et al. (2021) | China | Rectal cancer | Nursing | Qualitative study | 18 | Avoidant behaviors (protection from identifying with any form of cancer) Concealing their real self |
|
| Kudjawu and Agyeman-Yeboah (2021) | Ghana | Breast cancer | Medicine | Qualitative study | 8 | Restricted social network (contact, activity, communication) | |
| Liu B et al. (2021) and Liu Y et al. (2021) | China | Lung cancer | Nursing | Cross-sectional study | 288 | Limitations with social networks Avoidant behaviors |
Feelings of loneliness Feelings of helplessness |
| Yuan et al. (2020) | China | Head and neck cancer | Nursing | Cross-sectional study | 230 | Feelings of loneliness Feelings of uselessness |
|
| Wang et al. (2020) | China | Breast cancer | Nursing | Cross-sectional study | 228 | Limitations with social network Avoidant behaviors |
Feelings of loneliness Feeling of helplessness |
| Zhu et al. (2019) | United States | Prostate cancer | Medical informatics | Retrospective study | 3,138 | Limitations with social networks Considering relationships insufficient to meet social needs (lacking companionship) |
Feelings of loneliness Feelings of social exclusion |
| Raque-Bogdan et al. (2019) | United States | General cancer | Psychology | Review | Concealing their real selves (including hiding cancer facts and feelings of loneliness) | Feelings of loneliness A feeling of a lack of control over one’s body |
|
| van Roij et al. (2019) | Netherlands | General cancer | Medicine | Qualitative study | 18 | Abnormal social network Abnormal life |
|
| Ettridge et al. (2018) | Australia | Prostate cancer | Nursing | Qualitative study | 20 | Self-isolating or concealing oneself | Feelings of loneliness Low self-esteem |
| De Blasi et al. (2018) | France | General cancer | Medicine | Qualitative study | 3 | Relinquishing former social roles | Feelings of social exclusion (working environment) |
| Carduff et al. (2018) | United Kingdom | Bowel cancer | Nursing | Qualitative study | 16 | Limitations with social networks (inability to maintain old and develop new relationships) | |
| Iannarino (2018) | United States | General cancer | Medicine | Qualitative study | 3 | Limitations with social network | |
| Puigpinós-Riera et al. (2018) | Spain | Breast cancer | Medicine | Mixed cohort studies | 2,235 | Limitations with social networks (size, frequency of contacts) | Distress |
| Simonelli and Otto (2017) | United Kingdom | Gynecological cancer | Psychology | Book | Limitations with social networks | Low self-esteem Feelings of social exclusion (working environment) |
|
| Parton et al. (2017) | United Kingdom | Cancer in women | Psychology | Mixed-methods study | 695 | Feelings of being in a life stage that is not consistent with peers’ life stages | |
| Biagioli et al. (2017) | Italy | Hematologic malignancies | Nursing | Qualitative study | 9 | Protective isolation | Feelings of loneliness |
| Hinzey et al. (2016) | United States | Breast cancer | Medicine | Review | Limitations with social networks (size, diversity, or frequency of contacts) | Feelings of loneliness | |
| Jeong et al. (2016) | Korea | Lung cancer | Nursing | Systemic review | Abnormal social interactions Exclusion from social support groups Lack of advocacy Response to stigmatization |
Feelings of loneliness | |
| Fu et al. (2013) | Australia | Breast cancer | Psychology | Systemic review | Not going out Avoiding contact with others |
||
| Kroenke et al. (2013) | Oakland | Breast cancer | Epidemiology | Cohort studies | 2,264 | Limitations with social networks (size) | |
| Lee et al. (2011) | Korea | Neutropenic cancer | Nursing | Systematic review | Limitations with social networks | Concealing real emotions Feelings of powerless |
|
| Bennett et al. (2006) | United Kingdom | Breast cancer | Nursing | Qualitative study | 8 | Avoidant behaviors (protection from identifying with any form of cancer) Concealing their real selves |
Feelings of loneliness |
| Hagedoorn and Molleman (2006) | Netherlands | Head and neck cancer | Public health | Cross-sectional study | 76 | Avoidant behaviors (both active and passive isolation) | |
| Blinderman and Cherny (2005) | Israel | General cancer | Psychology | Qualitative study | 40 | Limitations with social networks Avoiding contact with others |
|
| Høybye et al. (2005) | Denmark | Breast cancer | Medicine | Qualitative study | 39 | Feelings of loneliness | |
| Noyes et al. (1990) | United States | Solid tumors | Psychology | Cross-sectional study | 438 | Limitations with social networks (family, friends) | |
| McGeough et al. (1980) | United States | Lung cancer | Nursing | Cross-sectional study | 22 | Limitations with social networks (withdrawal from family and friends) | Feelings of loneliness |