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. 2021 Jan-Apr;21(1):100201.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2020.10.001. Epub 2020 Nov 26.

Loneliness predicts suicidal ideation and anxiety symptoms in long-term childhood cancer survivors

Mareike Ernst  1 , Elmar Brähler  1 , Philipp S Wild  2   3   4 , Jörg Faber  5 , Hiltrud Merzenich  6 , Manfred E Beutel  1
Affiliations

Loneliness predicts suicidal ideation and anxiety symptoms in long-term childhood cancer survivors

Mareike Ernst et al. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2021 Jan-Apr.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at risk for adverse late effects. However, not all of them are well understood. The present study addressed loneliness, a previously under-researched mental health risk in cancer survivor populations. We assessed the prevalence of loneliness and its impact on psychological symptoms over time.

Method: A registry-based sample of N = 633 adult long-term CCS underwent medical and psychological assessments and took part in a follow-up survey 2.5 years later. Psychological symptoms (somatic, anxiety, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation) were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. We calculated linear regression models of symptoms at follow-up to investigate the impact of loneliness over time (controlling for symptoms at baseline and relevant confounders).

Results: Loneliness was reported by 17.70% of CCS. In multivariate linear regression analyses, loneliness was still predictive of more severe anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation over two years later. Loneliness did not predict somatic and depression symptoms at follow-up (which increased with age).

Conclusions: Loneliness affected a significant number of CCS and was a risk factor for persistent anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation. The extent to which young cancer patients' re-integration into society is successful could thus have important implications for well-being in adulthood.

Los sobrevivientes a largo plazo de cáncer infantil (SCI) están en riesgo de sufrir efectos tardíos. Evaluamos la prevalencia de la soledad y su impacto en los síntomas psicológicos a lo largo del tiempo. Método: Una muestra de N = 633 adultos con un pasado de SCI se sometió a evaluaciones médicas y psicológicas y participó en una encuesta de seguimiento 2,5 años después. Los síntomas psicológicos se midieron mediante el Patient Health Questionnaire. Calculamos modelos de regresión lineal de síntomas en el seguimiento para investigar el impacto de la soledad a lo largo del tiempo (controlando los síntomas al inicio y los factores de confusión relevantes). Resultados: La soledad fue reportada por el 17,70% de SCI. La soledad seguía siendo predictiva de síntomas de ansiedad más graves e ideación suicida dos años después. La soledad no predijo los síntomas somáticos y de depresión durante el seguimiento (que aumentaron con la edad). Conclusiones: La soledad fue un factor de riesgo para síntomas de ansiedad persistente e ideación suicida. La medida en que la reintegración de los pacientes jóvenes con cáncer en la sociedad tenga éxito podría tener importantes implicaciones para el bienestar en la edad adulta.

Keywords: Anxiety; Cancer; Descriptive survey study; Loneliness; Suicidal ideation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant flow. The present work only used data of the follow-up analysis sample.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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