Psychological well-being, emotional coping and quality of life of cancer survivors

Introduction: One of the many challenges faced by cancer survivors is the impact their disease has on their psychological and cognitive well-being. Higher emotional resilience and flexibility in cancer patients may improve their quality of life and reduce their risk of developing anxiety and depression, according to research. This study aims to analyze the emotional functioning of fifty-two cancer survivors regarding gender differences (21 females/31 males).

Methodology: Differences between genders in emotional functioning among cancer survivors were investigated using a cross-sectional observational design. This strategy was chosen to enable the evaluation of psychological, emotional, and cognitive consequences at one particular moment after cancer therapy is finished. Convenience sampling was used to select participants from survival support groups and oncology outpatient clinics. Inclusion criteria: adults > eighteen years old, diagnosis of cancer and completion of the initial course of treatment, the ability to comprehend the language; no known neurological or mental health issues. Fifty-two cancer survivors (21 females and 31 males) made up the final sample. The administered tools used for anxiety, depression, quality of life were STAI, Zung and QoL Questionnaie. In addtion, there was a cognitive assessement for cognitive functions.

Results: Patients' Mean age was 52,3 (SD 6.78) and mean years of education were 15,21 ( SD 5,93). Our findings indicate that females experience more negative emotions and express their negative emotions in comparison to males (p=0.01). Family and socioeconomic factors are involved in the emotional changes that results in psychological difficulties. Furthermore, following chemotherapy, patients with many cancer types may experience cognitive issues related to short-term memory, executive skills, and visuospatial perception (p=0.001). Conclusion: Females experience more negative emotions and express their negative emotions in comparison to males. Compared to young and middle-aged patients who typically have to juggle employment and family responsibilities in addition to their cancer treatment, elderly patients typically experience less emotional discomfort.