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Psychological distress and quality of life in lung cancer: the role of health‐related stigma, illness appraisals and social constraints
Author(s) -
Chambers Suzanne K.,
Baade Peter,
Youl Philippa,
Aitken Joanne,
Occhipinti Stefano,
Vinod Shalini,
Valery Patricia C.,
Garvey Gail,
Fong Kwun M.,
Ball David,
Zorbas Helen,
Dunn Jeff,
O'Connell Dianne L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3829
Subject(s) - distress , shame , stigma (botany) , psychological intervention , feeling , quality of life (healthcare) , anxiety , clinical psychology , lung cancer , social stigma , psychological distress , medicine , social support , psychiatry , psychology , psychotherapist , social psychology , family medicine , oncology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Objective Health‐related stigma is associated with negative psychological and quality of life outcomes in lung cancer patients. This study describes the impact of stigma on lung cancer patients' psychological distress and quality of life and explores the role of social constraints and illness appraisal as mediators of effect. Methods A self‐administered cross‐sectional survey examined psychological distress and quality of life in 151 people (59% response rate) diagnosed with lung cancer from Queensland and New South Wales. Health‐related stigma, social constraints and illness appraisals were assessed as predictors of adjustment outcomes. Results Forty‐nine percent of patients reported elevated anxiety; 41% were depressed; and 51% had high global distress. Health‐related stigma was significantly related to global psychological distress and quality of life with greater stigma and shame related to poorer outcomes. These effects were mediated by illness appraisals and social constraints. Conclusions Health‐related stigma appears to contribute to poorer adjustment by constraining interpersonal discussions about cancer and heightening feelings of threat. There is a need for the development and evaluation of interventions to ameliorate the negative effects of health‐related stigma among lung cancer patients. © 2015 The Authors. Psycho‐Oncology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.