Correlations between anxiety/depression, self-efficacy, and social support in patients with gastric cancer and analysis of risk factors.

[BACKGROUND] Patients with gastric cancer (GC) frequently experience notable psychological distress, which often manifests as anxiety and depression. Identifying key contributing factors is essential for developing effective interventions to improve mental health outcomes.

[AIM] To investigate the relationships between anxiety/depression, self-efficacy, and social support in patients with GC and identified significant risk factors.

[METHODS] We enrolled 124 patients with GC undergoing treatment at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital between May 2021 and May 2024. Information regarding the patients' anxiety and depression evaluated by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), [including a subscale for anxiety (HADS-A) and a separate subscale for depression (HADS-D)] self-efficacy, measured by the general self-efficacy scale (GSES), and social support, assessed by the perceived social support scale (PSSS), was gathered. Relationships among HADS, GSES, and PSSS scores were determined through Pearson correlation analysis. Risk factors for anxiety and depression among patients with GC were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses, specifically binary logistic regression.

[RESULTS] The obtained data demonstrated mild psychological distress (mean HADS-A: 8.74 ± 3.70; mean HADS-D: 10.26 ± 3.84), suboptimal self-efficacy levels (GSES: 17.81 ± 5.45), and moderate social support (PSSS: 56.27 ± 11.28). Correlational analysis revealed significant inverse relationships between psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and both social support and self-efficacy ( < 0.01), with self-efficacy showing a strong positive association with social support ( < 0.01). Univariate analysis revealed that gender, age, clinical stage, tumor size, GSES, and PSSS were closely associated with anxiety and depression in patients with GC. Multivariate logistic regression identified three independent predictors of these mood disturbances: Advanced age (≥ 60), large tumor size (≥ 3 cm), and diminished GSES scores (< 18).

[CONCLUSION] Our findings suggest that patients with GC generally experience mild anxiety and depression, which are closely related to low self-efficacy and insufficient social support. Age, tumor size, and low self-efficacy are independent predictors of anxiety and depression. In clinical practice, psychosocial interventions should be integrated, with a focus on high-risk populations, to improve patients' mental health.