Abstract
Objective
Cancer in young adulthood is a non‐normative and critical life event. The experience of having cancer can have a strong impact on the mental health of young adults. This study investigated anxiety and depression in young adult cancer patients, examining changes over time and determining associated factors.
Methods
Young cancer patients (18‐39 years at time of diagnosis, diagnosis <4 years) were examined. Anxiety and depression were measured at two time points (t2=12 months after t1) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Regression analyses were conducted to determine whether sociodemographic, medical and/or psychosocial factors (social support, adjustment to the illness, unmet supportive care needs) were associated with patients’ anxiety and depression.
Results
514 young cancer patients (mean age 29.6 years, 75.1% women) completed both questionnaires. A higher proportion showed elevated levels of anxiety (t1:42.2%; t2:45.3%) than of depression (t1:16.9%; t2:17.7%), and no significant changes in anxiety and depression levels over time were observed. Psychosocial factors explained a major proportion of the variances for anxiety and depression levels at both time points (adjusted R2 between 0.50‐0.59). Furthermore, significant associations were found for anxiety (t1) with gender (women↑); anxiety (t2) and depression (t2) with sick leave (sick leave yes↑); depression (t2) with time since diagnosis (longer time↑).
Conclusion
Psychological distress among adolescents and young adults (AYA) manifests particularly as anxiety. Strong associations between anxiety/depression and psychosocial factors, as well as the stability of psychological distress over time, clearly illustrate the need for psycho‐oncological care in this patient group.