Self-Compassion and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Chinese Cancer Patients: the Mediating Role of Illness Percept
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Self-Compassion and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Chinese Cancer Patients: the Mediating Role of Illness Perceptions Lei Zhu 1 & Jun Wang 1 & Siyao Liu 2 & Haiyan Xie 3 & Yuqin Hu 3 & Juntao Yao 3 & Adelita V. Ranchor 4 & Maya J. Schroevers 4 & Joke Fleer 4
# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Objectives An adaptive role of self-compassion for psychological functioning in cancer patients has been highlighted, yet less is known about the underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of cancer patients’ illness perceptions in the relations between self-compassion and psychological symptoms. Methods This cross-sectional study focused on 301 people with heterogeneous types of cancer. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect participants’ levels of self-compassion, illness perceptions, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Parallel mediation analyses were performed to examine the research questions. Results The relation between self-compassion and depressive symptoms was mediated by perceived consequences and a timeline cyclical of cancer. Perceived consequences also mediated the relation between self-compassion and symptoms of anxiety, with an additional mediating role of personal control. Conclusions These findings suggest that both self-compassion and illness perceptions were closely linked with cancer patients’ psychological symptoms. Particularly, cancer patients who feel more self-compassionate perceive fewer negative consequences of cancer, a less timeline cyclical, and more personal control over their life and report fewer psychological symptoms. Keywords Self-compassion . Depressive symptoms . Anxiety symptoms . Illness perceptions . Cancer patients
Symptoms of depression and anxiety are highly prevalent psychological symptoms in cancer patients (Mitchell et al. 2011). Severe depressive and anxiety symptoms may contribute to a longer hospital stay, a reduced adherence to medical treatment, and a poor quality of life in cancer patients (Mausbach et al. 2015; Reich et al. 2008). Given such negative impacts, research has examined
* Lei Zhu [email protected] * Juntao Yao [email protected] 1
School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Chang’an South Road No. 199, Xi’an 710062, China
2
Xi’an Medical College, Xi’an, China
3
Shaanxi Provincial Tumor Hospital, Yanta West Road No. 309, Xi’an, China
4
Department of Health Psychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
factors that can predict severe psychological symptoms. Self-compassion has been found as one protective factor that can enhance psychological adaptation to life stressors (MacBeth and Gumley 2012; Neff and McGehee 2010). Previous research in people with cancer has found that higher levels of self-compassion were associated with fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress (Arambasic et al. 2019; Gillanders et al. 2015; Lennon et al. 2018; Svendsen et al. 2016; Zhu et al. 2019). Accord
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