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Risk factors and health behaviors associated with loneliness among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Loneliness may exacerbate poor health outcomes particularly among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the risk factors of loneliness among cancer survivors. We evaluated the risk factors of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related prevention behaviors a...

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Main Authors: Aßmann, Elena (Author) , Ose, Jennifer (Author) , Hathaway, Cassandra A. (Author) , Oswald, Laura B. (Author) , Hardikar, Sheetal (Author) , Himbert, Caroline (Author) , Chellam, Vimalkumar (Author) , Lin, Tengda (Author) , Daniels, Bailee (Author) , Kirchhoff, Anne C. (Author) , Gigić, Biljana (Author) , Grossman, Douglas (Author) , Tward, Jonathan (Author) , Varghese, Thomas K. (Author) , Shibata, David (Author) , Figueiredo, Jane C. (Author) , Toriola, Adetunji T. (Author) , Beck, Anna (Author) , Scaife, Courtney (Author) , Barnes, Christopher A. (Author) , Matsen, Cindy (Author) , Ma, Debra S. (Author) , Colman, Howard (Author) , Hunt, Jason P. (Author) , Jones, Kevin B. (Author) , Lee, Catherine J. (Author) , Larson, Mikaela (Author) , Onega, Tracy (Author) , Akerley, Wallace L. (Author) , Li, Christopher I. (Author) , Grady, William M. (Author) , Schneider, Martin (Author) , Dinkel, Andreas (Author) , Islam, Jessica Y. (Author) , Gonzalez, Brian D. (Author) , Otto, Amy K. (Author) , Penedo, Frank J. (Author) , Siegel, Erin M. (Author) , Tworoger, Shelley S. (Author) , Ulrich, Cornelia (Author) , Peoples, Anita R. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 28 February 2024
In: Journal of behavioral medicine
Year: 2024, Volume: 47, Issue: 3, Pages: 405-421
ISSN:1573-3521
DOI:10.1007/s10865-023-00465-z
Online Access:Resolving-System, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-023-00465-z
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10865-023-00465-z
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Author Notes:Elena S. Aßmann, Jennifer Ose, Cassandra A. Hathaway, Laura B. Oswald, Sheetal Hardikar, Caroline Himbert, Vimalkumar Chellam, Tengda Lin, Bailee Daniels, Anne C. Kirchhoff, Biljana Gigic, Douglas Grossman, Jonathan Tward, Thomas K. Varghese, David Shibata, Jane C. Figueiredo, Adetunji T. Toriola, Anna Beck, Courtney Scaife, Christopher A. Barnes, Cindy Matsen, Debra S. Ma, Howard Colman, Jason P. Hunt, Kevin B. Jones, Catherine J. Lee, Mikaela Larson, Tracy Onega, Wallace L. Akerley, Christopher I. Li, William M. Grady, Martin Schneider, Andreas Dinkel, Jessica Y. Islam, Brian D. Gonzalez, Amy K. Otto, Frank J. Penedo, Erin M. Siegel, Shelley S. Tworoger, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Anita R. Peoples
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Summary:Loneliness may exacerbate poor health outcomes particularly among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the risk factors of loneliness among cancer survivors. We evaluated the risk factors of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related prevention behaviors and lifestyle/psychosocial factors among cancer survivors. Cancer survivors (n = 1471) seen at Huntsman Cancer Institute completed a survey between August-September 2020 evaluating health behaviors, medical care, and psychosocial factors including loneliness during COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were classified into two groups: ‘lonely’ (sometimes, usually, or always felt lonely in past month) and ‘non-lonely’ (never or rarely felt lonely in past month). 33% of cancer survivors reported feeling lonely in the past month. Multivariable logistic regression showed female sex, not living with a spouse/partner, poor health status, COVID-19 pandemic-associated lifestyle factors including increased alcohol consumption and marijuana/CBD oil use, and psychosocial stressors such as disruptions in daily life, less social interaction, and higher perceived stress and financial stress were associated with feeling lonely as compared to being non-lonely (all p < 0.05). A significant proportion of participants reported loneliness, which is a serious health risk among vulnerable populations, particularly cancer survivors. Modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and psychosocial stress were associated with loneliness. These results highlight the need to screen for unhealthy lifestyle factors and psychosocial stressors to identify cancer survivors at increased risk of loneliness and to develop effective management strategies.
Item Description:Gesehen am 20.08.2024
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1573-3521
DOI:10.1007/s10865-023-00465-z

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