Study of mutual influence between trait anxiety and risk of depression among older couples facing cancer

Abstract

IntroductionThe present study aims to examine the process of mutual influence in older couples with cancer diagnosis by studying their risk of depression. Materials and methods282 couples with one spouse diagnosed with cancer were selected from the Three-City cohort study. Dyadic analyses were used to determine whether trait anxiety affects the risk of depression and whether a mutual influence process occurs prior and post cancer diagnosis. Cross-sectional analyses were performed at two time-points: before and after receiving the diagnosis. ResultsA higher level of anxiety among cancer patients resulted in a decreased risk of depression among spousal caregivers. Moreover, a higher anxiety among spousal caregivers increased their own risk of depression, but it didn't influence depression risk among cancer patients. While there is an intra-individual relationship between a higher level of trait anxiety and a greater risk of depression prior to cancer diagnosis, there is no cross-influence between spouses. DiscussionThe study findings indicate that a dyadic psychological adjustment process might help older adults to cope with cancer by limiting the risk of depression among spousal caregivers.