Effects of self-disclosure and resilience on reproductive concern in patients of childbearing age with breast cancer: a cross-sectional survey study

Self-disclosure, perceived social support, and reproductive concerns among young male cancer patients in China: A mediating model analysis

Objective

Many young male cancer patients experience reproductive concerns. Self-disclosure might be able to improve patients' perceived social support and reproductive concerns. Nevertheless, these relationships have not yet been confirmed among young male cancer patients. This study aims to investigate the level of reproductive concerns and to identify the mediating role of perceived social support between self-disclosure and reproductive concerns among young male cancer patients in China by developing a structural model.

Methods

This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional design. We used the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement guidelines to report this study. A total of 369 young male cancer survivors were recruited by convenience sampling from two tertiary hospitals in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China. Data were collected using a "general data questionnaire", "distress disclosure index" (DDI), "perceived social support scale" (PSSS), and "reproductive concerns after cancer-male" (RCAC-M) via the WeChat mini program "Questionnaire Star" and paper questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses, and structural equation models were adopted to analyze the data.

Results

Reproductive concerns were at moderate levels and negatively associated with self-disclosure (r = -0.619, P < 0.01) and perceived social support (r = -0.599, P < 0.01). Self-disclosure indirectly influenced reproductive concerns (-0.328∼-0.159, P < 0.001) through perceived social support.

Conclusions

Self-disclosure and perceived social support are closely associated with reproductive concerns in young male cancer patients, and perceived social support is a mediator between self-disclosure and reproductive concerns. Healthcare providers could reduce reproductive concerns by enhancing self-disclosure and improving perceived social support.

Trial registration

This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on June 13, 2023 (NCT05914181).

A study of the mediating effect of social support on self-disclosure and demoralization in Chinese older adult homebound breast cancer patients

Purpose

Demoralization is common in older adult homebound breast cancer patients, seriously affecting their quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the demoralization of older adult homebound breast cancer patients and to analyse the mediating effects of social support between self-disclosure and demoralization.

Methods

The study enrolled 368 older adult homebound breast cancer patients reviewed in outpatient clinics of three hospitals from January 2022 to August 2023. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the general information questionnaire, the distress disclosure index (DDI), the social support revalued scale (SSRS), and the demoralization scale (DS). Path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesised serial mediation model.

Results

The total scores of self-disclosure, social support, and demoralization were 37 (25-42), 34 (19-48.75), and 46.5 (35-68), respectively. The results indicated a positive correlation between self-disclosure and social support (p < 0.01). In contrast, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed between self-disclosure, social support, and various demoralization dimensions (p < 0.01). Social support played a partial mediation effects between self-disclosure and demoralization, indirect effect =0.6362, SE = -0.591, 95% CI (-0.785 ~ -0.415); Self-disclosure direct effect demoralization, direct effect =0.3638, SE = -0.337, 95% CI (-0.525 ~ -0.144); total effect, SE = -0.929, 95% CI (-0.945 ~ -0.904).

Discussion

Social support a partial mediated between self-disclosure and demoralization in Chinese older adult homebound breast cancer patients. Clinical staff should focus on developing a social support system for Chinese older adult homebound breast cancer patients, encouraging patients to reveal their minds, and providing psychological counselling to enhance self-confidence and rebirth from adversity.

Relationships between Attachment Style, Emotional Self-Disclosure, and Quality of Life among Young Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

This investigation aims to explore relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and quality of life (QoL).

DATA SOURCES

The study sample completed the Chinese versions of the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Scale, and the Distress Disclosure Index between October 2021 and March 2022. The relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and QoL were investigated using a multiple mediation effects test and structural equation modeling.

CONCLUSION

Attachment anxiety and avoidance were risk factors for young Chinese breast cancer survivors' emotional self-disclosure and QoL. Emotional self-disclosure mediates the association between attachment anxiety or avoidance and QoL. Assessing and easing attachment anxiety and avoidance may improve the emotional self-disclosure and QoL of young breast cancer survivors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This study confirms that adult attachment plays an important role in young breast cancer patients' adaptation to the disease and that high adult anxiety and avoidance levels can significantly reduce emotional self-disclosure and QoL in young breast cancer survivors. Identifying attachment patterns can help caregivers better understand patients' responses, adaptation, and treatment adherence to cancer, thereby helping caregivers develop targeted and personalized cancer care practice programs or psychotherapy interventions to improve patients' physical and mental health outcomes.

Relationship between self-disclosure and anticipatory grief in patients with advanced lung cancer: the mediation role of illness uncertainty

Objective

To study the relationship between self-disclosure, illness uncertainty (IU) and anticipatory grief (AG) in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study using convenience sampling method, in which 316 patients with advanced lung cancer who were hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Wuxi City, China, from November 2022 to April 2023 were sampled. The Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer Patients, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, and the Distress Disclosure Index Scale (DDI) were selected to analyse the status quo, correlations, and the mediating effect of illness uncertainty on the relationship between self-disclosure and anticipatory grief in advanced lung cancer patients.

Results

The total self-disclosure score of advanced lung cancer patients was (36.35 ± 9.25), the total score of IU was (56.92 ± 15.65), and the score of AG was (52.29 ± 9.08); the results of correlation analyses showed that IU was negatively correlated with self-disclosure in advanced lung cancer patients (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with AG (p < 0.05), and self-disclosure was negatively correlated with AG (p < 0.05);the mediating effect rate of IU between self-disclosure and AG in advanced lung cancer patients was 49%.

Conclusion

The AG of advanced lung cancer patients was at a medium-high level, and IU had a significant mediating effect between self-disclosure and AG of advanced lung cancer patients; by increasing the level of patients' self-disclosure, IU could be effectively alleviated, and ultimately the AG of the patients could be reduced.