Modifiable psychosocial factors linked to depression among US cancer survivors
Loneliness, functional limitations and lack of social support were independently associated with depression in a large U.S.-based study of cancer survivors by Philip Baiden from The University of Texas Arlington, U.S., and colleagues, published Oct. 21, 2026, in the PLOS One.
A large U.S. study of cancer survivors, published in PLOS One on October 21, 2026, has identified modifiable psychosocial factors linked to depression among this population. Led by Philip Baiden from The University of Texas Arlington, the research involved 70,620 adult cancer survivors who participated in the 2023 and 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
The study found that approximately one in five cancer survivors had received a diagnosis of depression in their lifetime, a rate significantly higher than that in the general population (20%-30%). The researchers adjusted for various demographic, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral factors, finding that loneliness was the most strongly associated with depression, increasing the odds by 2.72 times.
Functional limitations were associated with 2.05 times higher odds of depression, and lack of social and emotional support raised the risk by 1.43 times. Importantly, physical exercise was linked to a decreased risk of depression. The findings highlight the need to consider psychosocial factors, beyond cancer-related medical conditions, in the overall mental health and well-being of cancer survivors.
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