Objective and subjective predictors of cancer-related stress symptoms in testicular cancer survivors
Abstract
Objective (1) To investigate cancer-related stress symptoms among testicular cancer survivors (TCSs), (2) to gain insight into the relationship of sociodemographic and cancer-related variables with cancer-related stress symptoms and (3) to assess whether objective and subjective aspects of cancer diagnosis and treatment can be associated with ongoing distress after cancer.Methods Three hundred and fifty-four TCSs were enrolled in this study and completed the Impact of Events Scale (IES). Thirty TCSs were also selected for interviews: 15 with no and 15 with high levels of cancer-related stress symptoms.Results Thirteen percent of the TCSs reported experiencing cancer-related stress symptoms. Single TCSs, those with less education, and those who were not employed for wages reported higher levels of stress. Cancer-related variables appeared to play almost no role. Information obtained through interviews suggested that subjective perceptions were more strongly associated with cancer-related stress symptoms than were actual medical histories. Perceptions about the impact of the illness on current life and fear of the future were particularly decisive factors in the presence or absence of cancer-related stress symptoms.Conclusions It would be beneficial to ask TCSs during follow-up about their thoughts concerning the threats posed by testicular cancer and its effects for their current and future lives, as such perceptions do not necessarily coincide with actual medical histories or current state of health.Practice implications TCSs who feel that their lives continue to be threatened by their experiences with testicular cancer should be referred for psychosocial intervention.
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The present results are in line with previous studies demonstrating the importance of subjective appraisals and social support in predicting childhood cancer survivors' psychosocial outcomes.
“These results are in line with previous studies demonstrating the importance of subjective appraisals and social support in predicting CCS' psychosocial outcomes [10-13].”
From Risk and Protective Factors of Psychosocial Functioning in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Results of the DCCSS-LATER Study (2024) · cites this paper as [13]
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Bättre två än en - men det går bra ändå : Unga mäns upplevelser av att drabbas av testikelcancer
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Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidality Among Testicular Cancer Survivors
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- Authors
- Fleer, J., Sleijfer, D., Hoekstra, H., Tuinman, M., Klip, E., & Hoekstra-Weebers, J.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
- Venue
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 142-150
- ISSN
- 0738-3991 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1982793790
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Patient Education and Counseling (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Testicular diseases and treatments
- Keywords
- testicular cancer survivors, cancer-related stress, post-traumatic stress, Impact of Event Scale, sociodemographic predictors, fear of recurrence, psychosocial interventions, treatment follow-up
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Educational Status, Fear, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Q-Sort, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Testicular Neoplasms, Nursing Methodology Research, Marital Status, Survivors
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