Journal article
Psychological flexibility, distress, and coping in ovarian cancer survivors
Journal of psychosocial oncology, Vol.44(3), pp.358-375
2026
DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2025.2588632
PMID: 41299870
Abstract
Ovarian cancer survivors report elevated levels of psychological distress due to the high rates of recurrence and mortality, but little is currently known about the coping skills and strengths that survivors draw upon during their cancer survivorship. One such possible strength is psychological flexibility, defined as the ability to stay in the present moment regardless of unpleasant experiences and make behavioral choices based on values.
The study aimed to explore psychological flexibility and coping among ovarian cancer survivors prior to their participation in a web-based psychosocial intervention and to examine potential mediators of distress.
Ovarian cancer survivors were recruited to participate in an 11-week group-based, web-delivered psychosocial intervention. Participants completed assessments of mood, psychological flexibility and coping before the intervention. 165 ovarian cancer survivors provided survey data on psychosocial and clinical characteristics prior to randomization. Multiple mediation models were used to examine potential mediators in the relation of psychological flexibility with depression and anxiety.
Survivors reported mild levels of depression and anxiety. Multiple mediation models revealed significant indirect effects of psychological flexibility on both anxiety and depression. The negative association between psychological flexibility and anxiety was partially mediated by avoidant coping (
= .030). Moreover, the association between psychological flexibility and depression was mediated by cancer-related worry (
= .004).
Psychological flexibility is associated with less distress in ovarian cancer survivors who present for psychological intervention, and this pathway is partially mediated by avoidant coping and cancer-related worry. Mindfulness techniques and coping skills training may ameliorate these effects and improve psychological functioning.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Psychological flexibility, distress, and coping in ovarian cancer survivors
- Creators
- Rachel Telles - University of IowaAlexis Hosch - University of IowaKathryn P Pennington - University of Washington Medical CenterMatthew Schlumbrecht - University of MiamiBonnie A McGregor - Orion Center for Integrative Medicine, Seattle, WA, USALeslie Heron - Cancer Survivorship Provider Network, Seattle, WA, USASharaf Zia - University of IowaAlyssa Noble - University of IowaMichael J Goodheart - University of IowaMegan Noonan - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAFrank J Penedo - University of MiamiSusan K Lutgendorf - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of psychosocial oncology, Vol.44(3), pp.358-375
- DOI
- 10.1080/07347332.2025.2588632
- PMID
- 41299870
- NLM abbreviation
- J Psychosoc Oncol
- ISSN
- 1540-7586
- eISSN
- 1540-7586
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Grant note
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: UL1TR002537 National Institutes of Health
This project was supported in part by grant #R01CA246540 from the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the NIH, Award number UL1TR002537.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 11/26/2025
- Date published
- 2026
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Writers’ Workshop; Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9985035034202771
Metrics
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