J Psychosoc Oncol. 2024 Jul 31:1-18. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2024.2379827. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Cancer survivors are at risk for suicidality. We aimed to expand the knowledge about protective factors and their interplay with risk factors by testing social support as a modifier of the association of Quality of Life (QoL) deficits with suicidal ideation.
RESEARCH APPROACH: We surveyed N = 633 childhood cancer survivors (CCS) using validated questionnaires (EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire QLQ-C30, Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9). The interaction of QoL and social support was investigated using multiple linear regression analysis.
FINDINGS: CCS reporting suicide attempts and current suicidal ideation (SI) had lower QoL. CCS with SI reported less social support. QoL and social support were independently associated with SI and interacted: among CCS with less social support, low QoL was more strongly associated with SI.
CONCLUSION: The results highlight the need for interdisciplinary survivorship care, and to focus on risk and protective factors to strengthen suicide prevention.
PMID:39083714 | DOI:10.1080/07347332.2024.2379827
