Shidlo Noa, Lazarov Aneta, Benyamini Yael
Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Clinic for Early Detection of Skin Cancer, Herzliya, Israel.
Psychooncology. 2024 May;33(5):e6343. doi: 10.1002/pon.6343.
It is widely acknowledged that emotional states can influence skin conditions, yet limited research has delved into the impact of stress on skin cancer development. This retrospective study sought to expand the perspective on skin cancer risk factors by investigating the complex relationship between stressful life events and the incidence of skin cancer.
The sample included 268 individuals followed-up in a dermatological clinic, in three groups: Patients who had previously been diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma and are currently in remission (32%), those who had been diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer (30%), and a control group who are at risk for skin cancer (38%). Participants filled in questionnaires regarding childhood and adulthood life events, and loss and gain of resources following their subjectively most stressful event in adulthood. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the associations of life events with skin cancer occurrence, and mediating and moderating effects of resource loss/gain.
Adverse childhood experiences were associated with melanoma occurrence, with the melanoma group reporting significantly more such experiences compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Resource loss from subjectively significant stressful life events in adulthood partially mediated the association between adverse childhood experiences and melanoma incidence.
The findings suggest that there may be intricate connections between stress, life events, adaptation to change, and skin cancer, which future research may further unravel. This study underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to stress management, coping strategies development, and skin cancer prevention in healthcare settings.
人们普遍认为情绪状态会影响皮肤状况，但针对压力对皮肤癌发展影响的研究却十分有限。这项回顾性研究旨在通过调查应激性生活事件与皮肤癌发病率之间的复杂关系，来拓展对皮肤癌风险因素的认识。
样本包括在皮肤科诊所接受随访的268名个体，分为三组：曾被诊断为皮肤黑色素瘤且目前处于缓解期的患者（32%）、被诊断为非黑色素瘤皮肤癌的患者（30%）以及有皮肤癌风险的对照组（38%）。参与者填写了关于童年和成年生活事件的问卷，以及在成年后主观上最具压力的事件之后资源的损失和获得情况。采用多项逻辑回归分析来检验生活事件与皮肤癌发生之间的关联，以及资源损失/获得的中介和调节作用。
童年不良经历与黑色素瘤的发生有关，黑色素瘤组报告的此类经历明显多于对照组（p < 0.001）。成年后主观上重大应激性生活事件导致的资源损失部分介导了童年不良经历与黑色素瘤发病率之间的关联。
研究结果表明，压力、生活事件、对变化的适应与皮肤癌之间可能存在复杂的联系，未来的研究可能会进一步揭示这些联系。本研究强调在医疗环境中需要采取更全面的方法来管理压力、制定应对策略和预防皮肤癌。
