Cancer Management and Research (Jun 2022)
Gender Differences in Coping, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients with Non-Metastatic Lung Cancer
Abstract
Elisei Moise Hasan,1 Crenguta Livia Calma,2 Anca Tudor,3 Corina Vernic,3 Emanuel Palade,4,5 Emanuela Tudorache,6 Cristian Oancea,6 Ion Papava7 1“Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania; 2Department of Functional Sciences, Center of Immuno-Physiology (CIFBIOTEH), “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania; 3Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania; 4Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 5Department of Thoracic Surgery, “Leon Daniello” Pneumophtysiology Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 6Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania; 7Department of Neuroscience, NEUROPSY - COG Center for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology, “Victor Babes,” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Crenguta Livia Calma, Department of Functional Sciences, Center of Immuno-Physiology (CIFBIOTEH), “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Romania, Tel +40-72-361-7416, Email [email protected]: Depression and anxiety are prevalent issues amongst individuals suffering from thoracic cancer. Gender differences in coping with thoracic cancer have a serious impact upon the management of emotional distress. The purpose of our study has been to assess sex variations in handling anxiety and depression, including the use of coping mechanisms and their relationship with respect to anxiety and depression.Methods: This cross-sectional study registered 18 women and 22 men with non-metastatic lung cancer and operated upon. Pre-operatively and at one month post-operatively, the patients were assessed by means of scales (COPE, GAD-7 and PHQ-9).Results: Post-operatively, the intensity of depression and anxiety was substantially greater in males than in females (p = 0.049, p = 0.042). Male individuals tended to use coping mechanisms of humour (p = 0.009) and restraint (p = 0.029) significantly more frequently than women. Moreover, in women, depression correlated significantly with denial and behavioural deactivation (rho = 0.465, p = 0.029, respectively, rho = 0.562, p = 0.006); whilst anxiety, similarly, correlated with positive interpretation, behavioural deactivation, and use of social-emotional support (rho = 0.484, p = 0.022, respectively, rho = 0.590, p = 0.004 and rho = 0.502, p = 0.017). Furthermore, in males, depression correlated significantly with mental deactivation, use of social-instrumental and social-emotional support (rho = 0.702, p = 0.001, respectively, rho = 0.505, p=0.033, and rho = 0.773 with p < 0.001), whilst anxiety correlated significantly with mental deactivation, denial, and use of social-emotional support (rho = 0.597, p = 0.009, respectively, rho = 0.553 with p = 0.017 and rho = 0.755, p < 0.001).Conclusion: There were gender divergences in the use of coping mechanisms and the level of post-surgical anxiety and depression. We found significant positive relationships between some coping mechanisms and depression/anxiety. The patient’s gender governs the coping style, which in turn has bearing upon the post-operative evolution.Keywords: coping, anxiety, depression, non-metastatic lung cancer, gender differences
