Couples' coping skills help reduce depression in GI cancer survivors
Dyadic coping is a potentially modifiable protective factor in the psychological health of middle-aged and older gastrointestinal cancer survivors, according to a study recently published in the European Journal of Cancer.
A new study published in the European Journal of Cancer reveals that fear of cancer recurrence negatively impacts the coping skills and mental well-being of middle-aged and older gastrointestinal cancer survivors. Researchers from the First Hospital of Jiaxing in China, led by Silan Yang, analyzed questionnaire responses from 235 participants and discovered a correlation between fear of recurrence and depression.
Greater fear of recurrence was linked to poorer dyadic coping (r = -0.390) and higher depression scores (r = 0.431). However, better dyadic coping was associated with lower depression scores (r = -0.408). The study found that dyadic coping mediated 25.23% of the relationship between recurrence fear and depression, highlighting the potential for modifiable protective factors in psychological health.
The findings suggest that healthcare professionals should assess coping strategies in spouses of cancer survivors and consider interventions such as coping skills training and cognitive existential couples therapy to improve overall well-being.
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