Assessment of Depression and Death Anxiety among Adolescents and Husbands of Palestinian Women with Cancer

Abstract

Assessment of Depression and Death Anxiety among Adolescents and Husbands of Palestinian Women with Cancer This study aimed to assess the prevalence of death anxiety and depression among adolescent children and husbands of women with cancer in Palestine. The study involved 285 participants, including 200 adolescents aged 12 to 20 years and 85 husbands of women with cancer who were treated at two major cancer centers in Palestine. The participants completed a self-reported questionnaire to assess death anxiety using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) and depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results showed that depression and death anxiety were prevalent among family members of women with cancer, with a significantly higher mean depression score in adolescents than in husbands. The worst depression and highest anxiety mean scores were observed in daughters. In total, up to 20% of the sample had scores indicating clinical depression. The anxiety analysis revealed that 39.9% of all participants had concerns or serious concerns about death, with daughters having the highest percentage. The study found that coping and work were significant predictors of depression among sons of women with cancer while coping, mothers’ education, residence, and monthly income of the family significantly predicted sons’ death anxiety. Age, coping, type and duration of treatment, and care provider were significant predictors of depression among daughters, while age, care provider, monthly income, and mothers’ stage of cancer significantly predicted daughters’ death anxiety. Coping was also a significant predictor for depression and death anxiety in husbands, in addition to work. The study highlights the need for national policy initiation and counseling programs implementation for families with cancer patients, especially for adolescent daughters, and to assess mental disorders, such as depression and death anxiety, among those families.