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Cited by 73Cancer survivorship and careCancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune ResponseChildhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life

Cancer survivors' responses to daily stressors: Implications for quality of life.

Open access
Costanzo, Erin S., Stawski, Robert S., Ryff, Carol D., Coe, Christopher L., Almeida, David M.·2012·Health Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0027018PMC PMC3348391
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined cancer survivors' experience of and responses to challenges and stressors associated with everyday living. The impact of daily stressors on quality of life concerns and cortisol patterns was also investigated. METHOD: Participants included 111 cancer survivors who participated in a national telephone diary study of daily experiences (National Study of Daily Experiences). Their responses were compared with those of 111 sociodemographically matched participants with no cancer history using a multilevel modeling approach. Over an 8-day period, participants completed a daily inventory of the occurrence and impact of stressful events, affect, and physical symptoms. Salivary cortisol was sampled four times per day, and indices of awakening response (cortisol awakening response), diurnal slope, and overall output (area under the curve) were examined. RESULTS: Cancer survivors experienced similar numbers and types of stressful events as the comparison group. Although appraisals were largely comparable, cancer survivors showed a modest tendency to perceive stressors as more severe and disruptive, particularly those involving interpersonal tensions. The occurrence of stressors was associated with increased negative affect, decreased positive affect, and increased physical symptoms, but little change in cortisol. Relative to the comparison group, cancer survivors showed less pronounced changes in positive affect and cortisol output when stressors occurred, but a greater increase in negative affect in response to interpersonal conflicts. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that cancer survivors show a resilient ability to respond to day-to-day stressors and challenges. However, daily stressors can have a significant impact on survivors' mood and physical symptoms and therefore may be an important intervention target.

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  • Adults with cancer commonly have physical and psychological symptoms during and after primary treatment.

    “People with cancer experience significant physical and psychological symptoms, during as well as after primary treatment.”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy in adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and conceptual model (2021) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Discussion and Results describe mood changes and physical symptoms among cancer survivors. But the Method reports that participants were typically many years past diagnosis, and the Results identify only three who had received chemotherapy or radiation at or shortly before the study. The paper therefore supports symptoms after diagnosis but does not establish the claim about symptoms during primary treatment. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Physical and psychological symptoms often persist for more than 10 years after cancer treatment.

    “These symptoms often persist for more than 10 years’ post-treatment [3–11].”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy in adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and conceptual model (2021) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Method (Sample) reports that survivors were a median of 11 years post-diagnosis, and the Results (Affective, Somatic, and Physiological Responses to Daily Stressors) report physical symptoms and mood measures in this group. But the Discussion says treatment end dates and information about ongoing sequelae were unavailable. The paper therefore does not establish that physical and psychological symptoms often persist for more than 10 years after treatment. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Cancer survivors have ongoing concerns about recurrence and tend to perceive stressors as more severe, which can affect mood and physical symptoms.

    “Cancer survivors have ongoing concerns about cancer recurrence and have a tendency to perceive stressors as more severe, which in turn can have a significant impact on mood and physical symptoms [11].”

    From Acceptance and commitment therapy in adult cancer survivors: a systematic review and conceptual model (2021) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Results section (page unavailable) reports a modest tendency for survivors to rate some daily stressors as more severe or disruptive, especially interpersonal tensions; it also reports changes in affect and physical symptoms on stressor days. The Discussion likewise says daily stressors can significantly affect survivors’ mood and physical symptoms. Our copy does not establish ongoing concerns about cancer recurrence, and the greater severity ratings did not apply to all stressors (searched: cancer recurrence, recurrence). (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Costanzo, E. S., Stawski, R. S., Ryff, C. D., Coe, C. L., & Almeida, D. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Health Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2012
Volume
31
Issue
3
Pages
360-370
ISSN
  • 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
  • 1930-7810
DOI
10.1037/a0027018
PMC
PMC3348391
OpenAlex
W2109148995
Cited by
73
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
FWCI
3.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (Grant P01 AG020166, Grant R01 AG019239)
  • John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development
  • National Center for Research Resources (Grant KL2 RR0205012)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
Keywords
cancer survivors, daily hassles, quality of life, salivary cortisol, cortisol awakening response, diurnal cortisol rhythm, stress appraisal, negative affect, positive affect, somatic symptoms, interpersonal conflict, resilience, mood
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Affect, Aged, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Personality Inventory, Quality of Life, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Survivors

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