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. 2024;42(3):299-314.
doi: 10.1080/07347332.2023.2244474. Epub 2023 Aug 17.

Well-being and stress vulnerability in ovarian cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rachel Telles  1 , Sharaf Zia  2 , Breanna B Greteman  3 , Premal H Thaker  4 , Frank Penedo  5 , Mary E Charlton  3 , Michael J Goodheart  6   7 , Jessica S Armer  1 , Alyssa Noble  1 , Anil K Sood  8 , Susan K Lutgendorf  1   6   7
Affiliations

Well-being and stress vulnerability in ovarian cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rachel Telles et al. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2024.

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to examine (1) whether ovarian cancer (OC) survivors would have greater well-being vs. elevated distress compared to community members during a universal health stressor (COVID-19) and (2) how resources and risk factors at diagnosis predicted vulnerability to a subsequent health-related stressor.

Methods: One hundred seventeen OC survivors were recruited from two academic medical centers and compared to a community-based sample on COVID-related distress and disruption. Latent class analysis identified differentially impacted groups of survivors.

Results: Survivors reported lower distress than community members. Predictors of higher distress included shorter-term survivorship, greater disruption, and poorer emotional well--being (EWB) at diagnosis. Survivors were divided into high- and low-COVID-19-impact subgroups; high-impact individuals endorsed higher perceived stress and lower EWB at diagnosis.

Conclusion: Survivors reported lower COVID-related distress than community participants. While depression at diagnosis did not predict later distress, EWB was a strong predictor of response to a novel health-related stressor.

Keywords: COVID-19; distress; ovarian cancer; stress; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Statements and Declarations:

Conflict of interest:

Dr. Thaker has done consulting for Merck, Astra Zeneca, Clovis, Glaxo Smith Kline, Eisai, Mersana, Seagen, Agenus, Novocure, Immunogen, Celsion, and Aadi Pharmaceuticals, has research funding from Merck and Glaxo Smith Kline, and is a Celsion shareholder; Dr. Sood has done consulting for Merck, Glaxo Smith Kline, ImmunoGen, Onxeo, and Kiyatec, is a Biopath shareholder, and has received royalties from Top Alliance.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
OC Survivors as compared to a community sample on COVID-related symptoms, distress, and disruptions. Means and 95% CI depicted. ***p<.001
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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