Anxiety Trajectories Among Cancer Survivors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overview

Journal J Psychosoc Oncol

Publisher Routledge

Specialty Oncology

Date 2023 Jan 19

PMID 36655572

Authors

Lauren B Finkelstein

Naomi P Friedman

Joanna J Arch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe trajectories of general and bodily vigilance anxiety among cancer survivors during COVID-19 and examine associated factors.

Design: Longitudinal survey study (May-December 2020).

Sample: Colorado-based cancer survivors ( = 147).

Methods: Latent class growth analyses were used to examine trajectories for two types of anxiety (general and body vigilance), and to evaluate associations with fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), loneliness, and emotional approach coping.

Findings: Anxiety levels remained stable over time. Most participants were best characterized by the mild general anxiety and moderate bodily vigilance anxiety classes. FCR predicted both general and bodily vigilance anxiety class, and loneliness distinguished between mild and moderate bodily vigilance anxiety classes.

Conclusions: Current cancer survivors experienced mild general anxiety and moderate body vigilance anxiety during the early pandemic with no detectable improvement over time, and FCR consistently predicted anxiety outcomes.

Implications For Psychosocial Providers: These findings provide insight into the anxiety profiles of cancer survivors during COVID-19 and possible therapeutic targets.

References

Hughes M, Waite L, Hawkley L, Cacioppo J . A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies. Res Aging. 2008; 26(6):655-672. PMC: 2394670. DOI: 10.1177/0164027504268574. View

Arch J, Crespi C, Levin M, Genung S, Nealis M, Mitchell J . Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of a Low-Touch Remotely-Delivered Values Intervention to Promote Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Among Breast Cancer Survivors. Ann Behav Med. 2022; 56(8):856-871. PMC: 9345183. DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaab118. View

Musche V, Bauerle A, Steinbach J, Schweda A, Hetkamp M, Weismuller B . COVID-19-Related Fear and Health-Related Safety Behavior in Oncological Patients. Front Psychol. 2020; 11:1984. PMC: 7438892. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01984. View

Stanton A, Danoff-Burg S, Cameron C, Bishop M, Collins C, Kirk S . Emotionally expressive coping predicts psychological and physical adjustment to breast cancer. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2000; 68(5):875-82. View

Mitchell A, Ferguson D, Gill J, Paul J, Symonds P . Depression and anxiety in long-term cancer survivors compared with spouses and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2013; 14(8):721-32. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70244-4. View

Carreira H, Strongman H, Peppa M, McDonald H, Dos-Santos-Silva I, Stanway S . Prevalence of COVID-19-related risk factors and risk of severe influenza outcomes in cancer survivors: A matched cohort study using linked English electronic health records data. EClinicalMedicine. 2021; 29-30:100656. PMC: 7788436. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100656. View

Butow P, Bell M, Smith A, Fardell J, Thewes B, Turner J . Conquer fear: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a psychological intervention to reduce fear of cancer recurrence. BMC Cancer. 2013; 13:201. PMC: 3652728. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-201. View

Asmundson G, Paluszek M, Landry C, Rachor G, McKay D, Taylor S . Do pre-existing anxiety-related and mood disorders differentially impact COVID-19 stress responses and coping?. J Anxiety Disord. 2020; 74:102271. PMC: 7342169. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102271. View

Stanton A, Kirk S, Cameron C, Danoff-Burg S . Coping through emotional approach: scale construction and validation. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000; 78(6):1150-69. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.78.6.1150. View

10.

Harris P, Taylor R, Minor B, Elliott V, Fernandez M, ONeal L . The REDCap consortium: Building an international community of software platform partners. J Biomed Inform. 2019; 95:103208. PMC: 7254481. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103208. View

11.

Cheng C, Ho S, Lai Y, Zhang Q, Wang G . Coping profiles predict long-term anxiety trajectory in breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2021; 29(7):4045-4053. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05936-6. View

12.

Golestaneh L, Neugarten J, Fisher M, Billett H, Reyes Gil M, Johns T . The association of race and COVID-19 mortality. EClinicalMedicine. 2020; 25:100455. PMC: 7361093. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100455. View

13.

Arch J, Mitchell J, Genung S, Fisher R, Andorsky D, Stanton A . A randomized controlled trial of a group acceptance-based intervention for cancer survivors experiencing anxiety at re-entry ('Valued Living'): study protocol. BMC Cancer. 2019; 19(1):89. PMC: 6339433. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5289-x. View

14.

Ojalehto H, Abramowitz J, Hellberg S, Butcher M, Buchholz J . Predicting COVID-19-related anxiety: The role of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions, anxiety sensitivity, and body vigilance. J Anxiety Disord. 2021; 83:102460. PMC: 8318675. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102460. View

15.

Harris P, Taylor R, Thielke R, Payne J, Gonzalez N, Conde J . Research electronic data capture (REDCap)--a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. J Biomed Inform. 2008; 42(2):377-81. PMC: 2700030. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2008.08.010. View

16.

Spitzer R, Kroenke K, Williams J, Lowe B . A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006; 166(10):1092-7. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092. View

17.

Arch J, Genung S, Ferris M, Kirk A, Slivjak E, Fishbein J . Presence and predictors of anxiety disorder onset following cancer diagnosis among anxious cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2020; 28(9):4425-4433. PMC: 7347435. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05297-0. View

18.

Kwong A, Pearson R, Adams M, Northstone K, Tilling K, Smith D . Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in two longitudinal UK population cohorts. Br J Psychiatry. 2020; 218(6):334-343. PMC: 7844173. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2020.242. View

19.

Vickberg S . The Concerns About Recurrence Scale (CARS): a systematic measure of women's fears about the possibility of breast cancer recurrence. Ann Behav Med. 2003; 25(1):16-24. DOI: 10.1207/S15324796ABM2501_03. View

20.

Rosedale M . Survivor loneliness of women following breast cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2009; 36(2):175-83. DOI: 10.1188/09.ONF.175-183. View