Abstract
Background. The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a highly stressful event that may lead to significant psychological symptoms, particularly in cancer patients who are at a greater risk of contracting viruses. This study examined the frequency of stressors experienced in relation to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its relationship with psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, insomnia, fear of cancer recurrence) in breast cancer patients. Methods. Thirty-six women diagnosed with a non-metastatic breast cancer completed the Insomnia Severity Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the severity subscale of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, and the COVID-19 Stressors Questionnaire developed by our research team. Participants either completed the questionnaires during (30.6%) or after (69.4%) their chemotherapy treatment. Results. Results revealed that most of the participants (63.9%) have experienced at least one stressor related to the COVID-19 pandemic (one: 27.8%, two: 22.2%, three: 11.1%). The most frequently reported stressor was increased responsibilities at home (33.3%). Higher levels of concerns related to the experienced stressors were significantly correlated with higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia, and fear of cancer recurrence, rs(32) = 0.36 to 0.59, all ps < 0.05. Conclusions. Cancer patients experience a significant number of stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which are associated with increased psychological symptoms. These results contribute to a better understanding of the psychological consequences of a global pandemic in the context of cancer and they highlight the need to better support patients during such a challenging time.
Highlights
The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a highly stressful event and findings suggest that cancer patients may be vulnerable to experiencing psychological distress in the context of the current pandemic [1,2]
Results from a study conducted in breast cancer patients revealed that the disruption of oncology services had a significant impact on COVID-19-related emotional vulnerability as well as on anxiety and depression
Depression, insomnia, and FCR were chosen because they have been found to be elevated in the general population since the beginning of the pandemic [10,11] or because some COVID-19 related stressors appeared very likely to increase them
Summary
The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a highly stressful event and findings suggest that cancer patients may be vulnerable to experiencing psychological distress in the context of the current pandemic [1,2]. Results from a study conducted in breast cancer patients revealed that the disruption of oncology services had a significant impact on COVID-19-related emotional vulnerability as well as on anxiety and depression. Most of the patients included in these studies were not on active cancer treatments [8,9] The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine stressors related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and their relationships with psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, insomnia, and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR)) in breast cancer patients undergoing cancer treatments. Depression, insomnia, and FCR were chosen because they have been found to be elevated in the general population since the beginning of the pandemic [10,11] or because some COVID-19 related stressors appeared very likely to increase them (e.g., delays in cancer treatment leading to increased FCR)
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