Interaction of hope and optimism with anxiety and depression in a specific group of cancer survivors: a preliminary study

Abstract

BackgroundAnxiety and depression have been identified as a common psychological distress faced by the majority of cancer patients. With the increasing number of cancer cases, increasing demands will be placed on health systems to address effective psychosocial care and therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the possible role of hope and optimism on anxiety and depression. We also wanted to investigate if there is a specific component of hope that could play a role in buffering anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients.MethodsA retrospective cross sectional study was conducted in the outpatient station of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR-China. Fifty patients successfully treated for OC cancer were recruited after their informed consents had been obtained during the review clinic. During their regular follow-up controls in the outpatient clinic the patients compiled the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), hope scale (HS) and the life orientation scale-revised (LOT-R).ResultsHope was negatively correlated with depression (r = -.55, p < .001) and anxiety (r = -.38, p < .05). Similar pattern was found between optimism and the latter adjustment outcomes (depression: r = -.55, p < .001; anxiety: r = -.35, p < .05). Regression analyses indentified that both hope and optimism were significant predictors of depression. Hope and optimism had equal association with depression (hope: β = .40 versus optimism: β = .38). Hope and optimism together were significantly predictive of anxiety, whereas neither hope nor optimism alone was significant individual predictors of anxiety.ConclusionsHope and optimism both negatively correlated with patients' level of anxiety and depression. Besides theoretical implications, this study brings forward relevant findings related to developing specific clinical psychological care in the field of oncology that to date has not been researched specifically in the field of oncology. The results of this study will help guide the direction of future prospective studies in the field of oncology. This will contribute significantly to increasing patients quality of life as well enabling health care facilities to provide all cancer patients a more holistic cancer care.

Depression and Predictors in Taiwanese Survivors with Oral Cancer

“…The prevalence of depression is similar to the range found in previous literature review (HaisfieldWolfe et al, 2009). Findings in this study indicated more depression cases than obtained in an earlier study done in Hong Kong (Rajandram et al, 2011). Rajandram et al (2011) concluded that approximately 8% of the oral cancer study participants met the clinical cut-off for depression.…”

“…Findings in this study indicated more depression cases than obtained in an earlier study done in Hong Kong (Rajandram et al, 2011). Rajandram et al (2011) concluded that approximately 8% of the oral cancer study participants met the clinical cut-off for depression. This difference may be due to time since treatment completion.…”

“…This difference may be due to time since treatment completion. In the Rajandram et al (2011) study, patients had lower rates of depression possibly because they had completed tumor treatment 6-months prior to the study, and our subjects were just 2-3 weeks after surgery. More sustaining approaches may be necessary, such as empathy, listening, and companionship.…”

Predictors of hope among women with breast cancer during chemotherapy

“…The median of 90 is a high value of KPS when compared to that of cancer patients with pain from a Norwegian study, which obtained an average of 64.9% (± 15.6) (23) . Anxiety and depression have been identified as common psychological distress factors in most cancer patients (10) . The group that had decreased hope presented an increase in the depression score, which favors evaluating hope as a positive way in coping with the disease (1) .…”

“…Coping: Literature associates hope as an important resource and coping mechanism (1) . Anxiety and depression: Hope and optimism are negatively correlated to anxiety and depression (10)(11) . The higher the hope scores, the lower the possibility of the patient presenting a score of depression (5)(6) .…”