Catastrophizing Maladaptive Coping Affects the Association Between Viral Anxiety and Fear of Progression in Cancer Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic
- Author:
Hyuk Joo LEE
1
;
Cheolkyung SIN
;
Hyeyeong KIM
;
Hyeon-Su IM
;
Jae-Cheol JO
;
Yoo Jin LEE
;
Youjin KIM
;
Junseok AHN
;
Soyoung YOO
;
Su-Jin KOH
;
Seockhoon CHUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2023;20(12):1204-1210
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:The aim of the present study was to explore whether or not cancer patients’ viral anxiety and depression during the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were associated with a fear of cancer progression. We also assessed whether coping strategies affected the relationship.
Methods:The present cross-sectional survey included cancer patients who visited Ulsan University Hospital in Ulsan, Korea. The participants’ demographic information and responses to the following symptoms rating scales were collected: Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemic–6; Patient Health Questionnaire–9; Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-short version; or Fear of Progression Questionnaire-short version.
Results:Of the 558 cancer patients surveyed, 25 (4.5%) reported that their treatment schedule was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The patients’ fear of progression was found to be related to age (β=-0.08; p=0.011), viral anxiety (β=0.40; p<0.001), depression (β=0.26; p<0.001), and catastrophizing coping strategies (β=0.15; p=0.004), for an overall adjusted R2 of 0.46 (F=66.8; p<0.001). Mediation analysis showed that viral anxiety and depression were directly associated with fear of progression, while catastrophizing mediated this relationship.
Conclusion:Fear of progression in cancer patients was associated with viral anxiety, depression, and maladaptive coping techniques, such as catastrophizing, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
