Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
Objective:
This study tested sleep disturbance as a mediator through which stigma and discrimination predict psychological distress and physical symptom burden in adults with lung cancer.
Methods:
Lung cancer patients on active oncological treatment (N=108; 74.1% Stage IV) completed questionnaires on lung cancer stigma, sleep, distress, and physical symptoms at study entry and at 6- and 12-week follow-up. Mediation analyses were conducted to investigate whether stigma and discrimination predicted distress and physical symptoms at study entry and across 12 weeks through disrupted sleep.
Results:
Higher discrimination (b = 5.52, 95% CI [2.10, 8.94]) and constrained disclosure (b = 0.45, 95% CI [0.05, 0.85]) were associated significantly with higher sleep disruption at study entry. Sleep disruption, in turn, was associated with higher distress (b = 0.19, 95% CI [0.09, 0.29]) and physical symptoms (b = 0.28, 95% CI [0.17, 0.40]) at study entry. Sleep disruption significantly mediated relationships between higher discrimination and the outcomes of distress (indirect effect = 1.04, 95% CI [0.13, 1.96]) and physical symptoms (indirect effect = 1.58, 95% CI [0.37, 2.79]) at study entry. Sleep disruption also mediated relationships between constrained disclosure and the outcomes of distress (indirect effect = 0.85, 95% CI [< 0.01, 0.17]) and physical symptoms (indirect effect = 0.13, 95% CI [0.01, 0.25]).
Conclusions:
Lung cancer patients evidenced pronounced sleep disruption, which mediated relationships between indicators of lung cancer stigma and distress and physical symptoms at study entry. Research is needed to test additional mechanisms through which lung cancer stigma predicts these outcomes longitudinally.
Original Publication Citation
Williamson TJ, Garon EB, Irwin MR, Choi AK, Goldman JW, Stanton AL. Sleep Disturbance as a Mediator of Lung Cancer Stigma on Psychological Distress and Physical Symptom Burden. Psychosom Med. 2024 May 1;86(4):334-341. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000001299. Epub 2024 Feb 27. PMID: 38436657; PMCID: PMC11081853.
Digital Commons @ LMU & LLS Citation
Williamson, Timothy J. PhD, MPH; Garon, Edward B.; Irwin, Michael R.; Choi, Alyssa K.; Goldman, Jonathan W.; and Stanton, Annette L., "Sleep Disturbance As a Mediator of Lung Cancer Stigma on Health-related Adjustment" (2024). Psychological Science Faculty Works. 134.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/psyc_fac/134
