Loneliness and Emotional Support Predict Physical and Psychological Distress in Latinas with Breast Cancer and Their Supportive Partners

Alternative Mental Health Interventions for Hispanic Women With Breast Cancer: A State of the Science Review

Introduction: Current disadvantages in accessing healthcare services, particularly mental health resources, result in increased psychological dysfunction among Hispanic women with advanced breast cancer. Little is known about using alternative nonpharmacological therapies for Hispanic women experiencing psychological distress secondary to a breast cancer diagnosis. This state-of-the-science paper synthesizes current culturally appropriate alternative therapies that effectively address depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychological distress among Hispanic women with breast cancer (HWBC). Methods: The search criteria included published articles that used alternative interventions to address psychological needs among HWBC. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Four alternative interventions were identified in the literature that significantly met the cultural mental health needs of HWBC. Mindfulness and technology use were the two interventions most studied in this review. Conclusion: Evidence indicates that alternative therapies for mental health improve overall quality of life. Further research to attenuate psychological distress is needed to meet mental health needs among HWBC. Innovative methods such as the use of technology and mindfulness as well as integrating personalized care are crucial to address the cultural needs of HWBC.

Socio-Demographic and General Health Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors from Southwestern Poland

Background: Identification of factors associated with quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer survivors can contribute to better functioning in this group of patients. The study aimed to assess the association between QOL and anthropometric, sociodemographic, and medical characteristics in postmastectomy women from southwestern Poland, 9.4 (±6.5) years after completed treatment. Materials and methods: QOL was estimated with the SF-36v2 questionnaire in 250 survivors aged 62.8 (±8.0) years with previously histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer. Results: Women in this study rated their overall QOL with an average of 60.7 (±17.9), Mental Component Summary of 62.8 (±19.8), and Physical Component Summary of 57.5 (±18.8) points. The use of multivariate regression analysis revealed that depression, chronic diseases, abdominal obesity, and pregnancy history have a statistically significant negative effect on the QOL of women after mastectomy, whereas participation in regular physical activity, living with a partner, the education level ≥ 12 years, and living in the city were associated with a higher QOL assessment. There were no significant relationships between QOL and the age, time since surgery, type of treatment, smoking, and occupational status of the patients. Conclusions: Health education, greater social support, specialist care in the treatment of comorbidities, and propagation of a physically active lifestyle can improve the physical and mental functioning of breast cancer survivors long after diagnosis and treatment.

Social support, loneliness, eating, and activity among parent-adolescent dyads

We examined associations of social support and loneliness with eating and activity among parent-adolescent dyads (N = 2968) using actor-partner interdependence modeling. Loneliness had several actor associations with health behaviors (adolescents: less physical activity [PA], p < .001, more sedentariness, p < .001; parents: less fruit/vegetable consumption [FVC], p = .029, more hedonic food consumption [HFC], p = .002, and sedentariness, p < .001), but only one dyadic association (adolescent loneliness with less parent FVC, p = .039). Visible support was associated with less HFC, p < .001, and sedentariness, p < .001, but less FVC, p = .008, among adolescents. Invisible support was associated with less HFC, p = .003, but also less PA, p = .028, among adolescents. Both support types were associated with less HFC among parents, p < .001, but invisible support was also associated with less FVC, p = .029, and PA, p = .012, and more sedentariness, p = .013, among parents. When examining health behavior among parents and adolescents, it may be important to consider social support (but perhaps not loneliness) at a dyadic level.

Indirect Effects of Loneliness on Substance Use through Stress

Loneliness is associated with a range of physical health problems, and health behaviors (e.g., alcohol use) have been specified as one factor that explains the compromised health of lonely people. Accordingly, in this investigation, we sought to test direct and indirect (through stress) effects of loneliness on substance use (i.e., alcohol consumption, drinking problems, and prescription medication use) over the course of 1 year in a 2-wave longitudinal study. These effects were tested in a sample of 210 young adults who completed self-report measures of loneliness and substance use at time 1 and then completed measures of stress and substance use at time 2. The results showed that loneliness did not have prospective direct effects on substance use, but that it did have significant indirect effects, through increased stress, on all indicators of substance use. These findings highlight the important role of stress in potentially compromising the health of lonely people by increasing their propensity to engage in health risk behaviors.

Worry in Head and Neck Cancer Caregivers: The Role of Survivor Factors, Care-Related Stressors, and Loneliness in Predicting Fear of Recurrence

BACKGROUND

Fear of recurrence (FOR) is a primary concern for both cancer survivors and their caregivers, yet little is known about what care-related factors exacerbate this worry.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to establish the role of care-related stressors-as distinct from survivor characteristics-in predicting FOR in head and neck cancer caregivers.

METHODS

HNC survivor-caregiver dyads took part in a mailed survey. Survivors provided information on health and quality of life (using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire). Caregivers provided sociodemographic information, impact of caring on their time and finances, as well as their level of social support (Oslo Support Scale), loneliness (3-point loneliness scale), and completed the Worry of Cancer Scale (to measure FOR).

RESULTS

Data from 180 dyads were available for analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the role of caregiver stressors, social support, and loneliness while controlling for caregiver and survivor characteristics. The model explained 28% of the variance in Worry of Cancer scores (FOR). Caregivers who reported more loneliness, spent more time caring, and had greater financial stress from caring had higher scores on Worry of Cancer (FOR). Female caregivers, those caring for younger survivors, and those with survivors who had undergone less extensive forms of surgery also reported higher FOR.

DISCUSSION

A combination of factors place caregivers at greater risk of cancer-related worry, paving the way for designing interventions aimed at reducing FOR in caregivers of patients with head and neck cancers.