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Cited by 21Cancer survivorship and careSleep and related disordersChildhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life

Fear of Cancer Recurrence and Sleep in Couples Coping With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

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Perndorfer, Christine, Soriano, Emily C, Siegel, Scott D, Spencer, Rebecca M C, Otto, Amy K, Laurenceau, Jean-Philippe·2022·Annals of Behavioral Medicine
DOI 10.1093/abm/kaac018PMC PMC9635995
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Abstract

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and sleep disturbance are common in cancer survivors. Yet, little research has examined their relationship, and even less is known about what links may exist between these variables among the intimate partners of cancer survivors. Purpose: This study examines the relationship between FCR and sleep disturbance in breast cancer survivors and their partners. Using daily sleep data collected at two distinct periods early in survivorship—the completion of adjuvant treatment and the first post-treatment mammogram—higher survivor and partner FCR was hypothesized to predict greater sleep disturbance. Methods: Breast cancer survivors and intimate partners (N = 76 couples; 152 individuals) each reported sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, and wake after sleep onset each morning of two 21-day sleep diary bursts during the first year post-diagnosis. Three validated measures formed latent FCR factors for survivors and partners, which were used to predict average daily sleep. Results: Across both sleep diary bursts, survivor FCR was associated with their own reduced sleep duration, reduced sleep quality, and greater sleep onset latency. Survivor FCR was also associated with their partners’ reduced sleep quality and greater sleep onset latency. Partner FCR was associated with their own reduced sleep duration, reduced sleep quality, and greater sleep onset latency. Partner FCR was also associated with survivors’ reduced sleep quality. Conclusions: Findings revealed intrapersonal and interpersonal associations between FCR and sleep disturbance, addressing gaps in knowledge on FCR and an outcome with known short- and long-term implications for health and mortality.

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  • Excessive fear of cancer recurrence is associated with adverse health outcomes including psychological distress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and impaired quality of life.

    “Excessive levels of FCR can be highly debilitating and are associated with several adverse health outcomes, including psychological distress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and overall impaired quality of life. 3-6”

    From ConquerFear-Group: A randomized controlled trial of an online-delivered group-based psychological intervention for fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors (2023) · cites this paper as [5]

    The FCR and Subjective Sleep Quality results (page unavailable in our copy) associate greater fear of cancer recurrence with poorer sleep quality in early-stage breast cancer survivors and their spouses. The paper does not establish the claimed associations with depression, fatigue, or impaired overall quality of life; its measures include distress as a component of FCR, not as a separately tested outcome. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Harvey, A. G. (2005). Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts in Insomnia. In Intrusive thoughts in clinical disorders: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 86-118). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.
  2. Kenny, D. A., Kashy, D. A., & Cook, W. L. (2006). Dyadic Data Analysis. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  3. Lee-Jones, C., Humphris, G., Dixon, R., & Bebbington Hatcher, M. (1997). Fear of cancer recurrence: A literature review and proposed cognitive formulation to explain exacerbation of recurrence fears. Psycho-Oncology, 6, 95-105.
  4. Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. (1998-2017). Mplus User's Guide. Eight Edition. Los Angeles, California: Muthén & Muthén.
  5. Standish, L. J., Sweet, E. S., Novack, J., Wenner, C. A., Bridge, C., Nelson, A., … Torkelson, C. (2008). Breast Cancer and the Immune System. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 6(4), 158-168.

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Authors
Perndorfer, C., Soriano, E. C., Siegel, S. D., Spencer, R. M. C., Otto, A. K., & Laurenceau, J.-P.
Affiliations
  • University of Delaware (US)
  • Value Institute, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute , Newark, DE 19713, USA
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
  • University of Miami (US)
Corresponding author
Perndorfer, Christine
ORCID
Venue
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2022-05-13
Volume
56
Issue
11
Pages
1131-1143
ISSN
  • 0742-5554 (ISSN-L)
  • 0883-6612
  • 1532-4796
DOI
10.1093/abm/kaac018
PMC
PMC9635995
OpenAlex
W3017308382
Cited by
21
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7
FWCI
1.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
Locations
  • Annals of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Library, Museums and Press - UDSpace (University of Delaware) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (CA171921)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
Keywords
fear of cancer recurrence, sleep disorders, breast cancer survivors, intimate partners, couples, sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, adjuvant therapy, early breast cancer
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Breast Neoplasms, Fear, Female, Humans, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Sleep, Sleep Wake Disorders

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