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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Cancer worry and its impact on self-reported depressive symptoms among adult males and females in the US: a nationwide sample study

Authors: Lohuwa Mamudu, Jinyi Li, Archana J. McEligot, Michele Wood, Pimbucha Rusmevichientong, Erasmus Tetteh-Bator, Abdul-Nasah Soale, James D. Fortenberry, Faustine Williams

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Objective

With cancer the second deadliest disease in the world, worry about cancer can have mental health or psychiatric implications. This study examines the prevalence, differences, and influence of cancer worry (CW), its interaction effect with age, and other confounders on self-reported depressive symptoms (SRDS) among adult males and females in the US.

Methods

We utilized a nationally representative sample data of 2,950 individuals (males = 1,276; females = 1,674) from Cycle 4 of the Health Information National Trends Survey 5 (HINTS 5) 2020. Using frequencies, bivariate chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression, we examined the prevalence, difference, and association of CW with SRDS, adjusting for confounders.

Results

The prevalence rate of SRDS was found to be 32% among females and 23.5% among males. Among individuals with CW, females had a higher prevalence of SRDS compared to males (40.5% vs. 35.1%). However, there was a significant difference in the likelihood of experiencing SRDS between males and females with CW, with males having 84% increased risk compared to females. Across all age groups, the multivariate analysis of the relationship between CW and SRDS revealed that both males and females showed a significantly decreased likelihood of SRDS compared to those aged 18–34 years. However, males aged 35 years or older exhibited an even more pronounced decrease in likelihood compared to females in the same age group. Nonetheless, when examining the interaction of age and CW, we observed a significantly increased likelihood of SRDS across all age groups. Males, in particular, had a higher increased likelihood of SRDS compared to females across all ages, except for those aged 75 years and older.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the significant influence of CW on individuals’ SRDS and the modifying effect of age, particularly among males. These results are important for a better understanding of the risk of CW on mental health, which can be a preventive strategy or control mechanism.
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Metadata
Title
Cancer worry and its impact on self-reported depressive symptoms among adult males and females in the US: a nationwide sample study
Authors
Lohuwa Mamudu
Jinyi Li
Archana J. McEligot
Michele Wood
Pimbucha Rusmevichientong
Erasmus Tetteh-Bator
Abdul-Nasah Soale
James D. Fortenberry
Faustine Williams
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05405-4

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