The effect of disgust-related side-effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety in people treated for cancer : a moderated mediation model

Powell, Philip and Azlan, Haffiezhah A. and Simpson, Jane and Overton, Paul (2016) The effect of disgust-related side-effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety in people treated for cancer : a moderated mediation model. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 39 (4). pp. 560-573. ISSN 1573-3521

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Abstract

As maladaptive disgust responses are linked to mental health problems, and cancer patients may experience heightened disgust as a result of treatments they receive, we explored the associations between disgust-related side-effects and symptoms of depression and anxiety in people treated for cancer. One hundred and thirty two (83 women, M age = 57.48 years) participants answered questions about their treatments, side-effects, disgust responding, and mental health. Experiencing bowel and/or bladder problems, sickness and/or nausea (referred to here as “core” disgust-related side-effects) was significantly related to greater symptoms of depression and borderline increased anxiety. Further, these links were explained by a moderated mediation model, whereby the effects of core disgust side-effects on depression and anxiety were mediated by (physical and behavioural) self-directed disgust, and disgust propensity moderated the effect of core disgust side-effects on self-disgust. These findings stress the importance of emotional responses, like disgust, in psychological adaptation to the side-effects of cancer treatments.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Additional Information:
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10865-016-9731-0
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2738
Subjects:
?? anxietycancerdepressiondisgustself-disgustside-effectspsychiatry and mental healthgeneral psychologypsychology(all) ??
ID Code:
78473
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
08 Mar 2016 10:34
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
19 Sep 2024 01:54