The positive effect of social support on psychological distress among Chinese lung cancer patients: The mediating role of self‐esteem

AIM: To investigate the effect of social support on psychological distress among Chinese lung cancer patients and clarify the mediating role of self‐esteem. DESIGN: A cross‐sectional descriptive correlational survey of 441 Chinese lung cancer patients was designed. METHODS: Self‐esteem was supposed to play a mediating role in the association between social support and psychological distress. We collected demographic information, the Distress Thermometer, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale. RESULTS: Our revised model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (χ (2) = 37.489, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.965, Tucker‐Lewis index (TLI) = 0.926, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.099). Social support had a direct effect on self‐esteem and psychological distress, and self‐esteem had also a direct effect on psychological distress. Meanwhile, self‐esteem also partially mediated the relationship between social support and psychological distress among Chinese lung cancer patients.