Journal article
Non-cancer life stressors contribute to impaired quality of life in ovarian cancer patients
Gynecologic Oncology, Vol.131(3), pp.667-673
0
2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.09.025
PMCID: PMC3882020
PMID: 24096110
Abstract
Diagnosis and treatment for a life threatening illness such as cancer are known to be psychologically impactful. However, little is known about the influence that non-cancer life stressors have on the quality of life (QOL) of ovarian cancer patients. The goal of the present study was to examine associations between non-cancer life stressors and QOL in 123 women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer who were followed prospectively and longitudinally for one year. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to examine the relationship between life stressors and QOL pre-surgery and one year later, while adjusting for age, cancer stage, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and chemotherapy status (at one year). Prospective associations between QOL pre-surgery and one-year QOL were also examined. Number and severity of life stressors were unrelated to QOL of participants before surgery. At one year, however, participants experiencing a greater number of life stressors reported poorer concurrent physical well-being (PWB) ( = 0.015), functional well-being (FWB) ( < 0.0001), social well-being (SWB) ( = 0.0003), and total QOL ( < 0.0001). Similar effects were found for life event severity. Finally, experiencing a greater number of life stressors pre-surgery predicted poorer overall QOL one year post-diagnosis ( < 0.0001). Non-cancer life stressors can substantially impact long-term QOL of ovarian cancer patients, adjusting for medical variables such as chemotherapy and cancer stage, thus highlighting the importance of evaluating the stress burden of patients in ongoing cancer care.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Non-cancer life stressors contribute to impaired quality of life in ovarian cancer patients
- Creators
- Susan K Lutgendorf - University of Iowa, Psychological and Brain SciencesGeorge M SlavichKoenraad DeGeestMichael Goodheart - University of Iowa, Obstetrics and GynecologyDavid Bender - University of Iowa, Obstetrics and GynecologyPremal H ThakerFrank PenedoBridget Zimmerman - University of Iowa, BiostatisticsJoseph Lucci IIILuis MendezKatherine CollinsAnil K Sood
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Gynecologic Oncology, Vol.131(3), pp.667-673
- Event
- 0
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.09.025
- PMID
- 24096110
- PMCID
- PMC3882020
- NLM abbreviation
- Gynecol Oncol
- ISSN
- 0090-8258
- eISSN
- 1095-6859
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2013
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9983743793202771
Metrics
20 Record Views