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Choi E, Berkman AM, Battle A, Betts AC, Salsman JM, Milam J, Andersen CR, Miller KA, Peterson SK, Lu Q, Cheung CK, Livingston JA, Hildebrandt MAT, Parsons SK, Freyer DR, Roth ME. Psychological distress and mental health care utilization among Black survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer. Cancer 2024; 130:3011-3022. [PMID: 38676935 PMCID: PMC11309887 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer experience significant psychological distress and encounter barriers to accessing mental health care. Few studies have investigated racial/ethnic disparities in psychological health outcomes among AYA survivors, and none have compared outcomes within a racially minoritized population. METHODS National Health Interview Survey data (2010-2018) were analyzed that identified non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) survivors of AYA cancer and age- and sex-matched Black noncancer controls. Sociodemographic factors, chronic health conditions, modifiable behaviors (smoking and alcohol use), and psychological outcomes were assessed with χ2 tests. Logistic regression models, adjusted for survey weights, were used to evaluate the odds of psychological distress by cancer status after adjusting for covariates. Interactions between variables and cancer status were investigated. RESULTS The study included 334 Black survivors of AYA cancer and 3340 Black controls. Compared to controls, survivors were more likely to report moderate/severe distress (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; p < .001), use mental health care (OR, 1.53; p = .027), report an inability to afford mental health care (OR, 3.82; p < .001), and use medication for anxiety and/or depression (OR, 2.16; p = .001). Forty-one percent of survivors reported moderate/severe distress, and only 15% used mental health care. Among survivors, ages 18-39 years (vs. 40-64 years) and current smoking (vs. never smoking) were associated with the presence of moderate/severe distress. Among survivors with distress, high poverty status was associated with reduced utilization of mental health care. CONCLUSIONS A cancer diagnosis for a Black AYA is associated with greater psychological distress within an already vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunju Choi
- Department of Nursing, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amy M Berkman
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Aryce Battle
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea C Betts
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John M Salsman
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joel Milam
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Clark R Andersen
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kimberly A Miller
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Susan K Peterson
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qian Lu
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - J A Livingston
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michelle A T Hildebrandt
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Susan K Parsons
- Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David R Freyer
- Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael E Roth
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Rosenberg AR, Salsman JM. Resilience in adolescent and young adult oncology: Problems and prospects. Cancer 2024; 130:1015-1018. [PMID: 38150308 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Although resilience research in adolescent and young adult oncology is promising for improving patient‐centered outcomes, it does not adequately incorporate diverse perspectives of marginalized individuals. Including the unique aspects of minoritized adolescents and young adults and incorporating cultural, community, and system‐level considerations is essential to understanding and promoting resilience in an equitable fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby R Rosenberg
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John M Salsman
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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