Comparison of the sense of spousal support, anxiety, depression and their relationship to fear of cancer recurrence between lymphoma patients and their spouses: A cross-sectional study in China.

PURPOSE

To investigate the level of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in spouses of patients with lymphoma and its relationship with patients' FCR, as well as the correlations between FCR, sense of spousal support (SSS), anxiety, and depression in the couples.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 233 couples where one partner had lymphoma was conducted from May 2021 to February 2022. Participants provided demographic information and completed the Spouse Support Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The Fear of Progression Questionnaire (for patients) and Fear of Progression Questionnaire for Partners (for spouses) were used to measure FCR. Descriptive analyses, t-tests, variance analysis, Spearman's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of FCR, anxiety, and depression in patients was 37.7%, 68.7%, and 83.3%, respectively. The prevalence of FCR, anxiety, and depression in spouses was 56.2%, 78.1%, and 81.1%, respectively. Spouses' FCR scores were higher than those of patients, whereas patients' SSS and anxiety scores were higher than those of their spouses. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that patients' anxiety and SSS, as well as spouses' FCR were significantly associated with patients' FCR. Variables significantly associated with higher FCR among spouses were anxiety, per capita monthly household income, and patients' FCR.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with lymphoma and their spouses have a certain degree of FCR, anxiety, and depression. FCR levels in spouses are higher than in patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Psychological support interventions for couples may be effective in reducing FCR and facilitating family adaptation to cancer.