Evaluating the role of perceived injustice in mental health outcomes in cervical cancer care
Open accessAbstract
Purpose Perceived injustice is a novel psychosocial construct which reflects negative cognitive appraisals of blame, unfairness, and the severity and irreparability of one's loss. Experiences of injustice are increasingly recognised as a key determinant of recovery outcomes in healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of perceived injustice on psychological outcomes amongst a group of cancer patients and survivors who received false-negative smear results under a National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (CervicalCheck).Methods Women who received false-negative smear results who were involved in the CervicalCheck controversy in Ireland completed online measures of perceived injustice (IEQ), psychological distress (depression and anxiety as measured by the HADS), and satisfaction with care (PSCC) (n = 144).Results Rates of psychological distress in this sample were high, with 76% scoring in the clinical range for anxiety, 51% in the clinical range for depression, and 88% in the clinical range for perceived injustice. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that perceived injustice contributed unique variance to the prediction of depression and anxiety. Satisfaction with care significantly moderated the association between perceived injustice and depression.Conclusions Cancer patients who report high levels of perceived injustice are at greater risk for experiencing psychological distress. The relationship between perceived injustice and depression may vary as a function of satisfaction with care. Addressing issues of perceived injustice in the psychosocial and rehabilitative care of cancer patients may support the early identification of those at risk of significant psychological distress and enhance intervention success. Implications for policy and practice in healthcare are discussed.
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Among women with cervical cancer given false-negative smear results, perceived injustice significantly predicted depression and anxiety symptoms.
“in women with cervical cancer who received falsenegative smear results, perceived injustice was shown to be a significant predictor of symptoms of depression and anxiety.10”
From Perceived injustice: a historical and clinical review of a useful concept for psychiatry (2024) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Lynch, J., D’Alton, P., & Gaynor, K.
- Affiliations
- University College Dublin (IE)
- St. Vincent's University Hospital (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Lynch, Julie
- Venue
- Supportive Care in Cancer
- Published
- 2022-04-21
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 6215-6223
- ISSN
- 0941-4355 (ISSN-L)
- 1433-7339
- PMC
- PMC9022611
- OpenAlex
- W4224251723
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Supportive Care in Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Keywords
- perceived injustice, cervical cancer screening, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with care, psychosocial outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Pain Measurement, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Early Detection of Cancer
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