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Analysis of the influential factors of the emotional health of patients with cancer based on the structural equation model: the role of social media and emotional support

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore the mental health status of patients with cancer and related influential factors and provide a scientific basis to reduce serious emotional problems, improve the quality of life of cancer survivors and adopt targeted interventions.

Methods

A total of 517 patients who attended the oncology departments of six grade-A tertiary hospitals from July 2022 to September 2022 were selected by convenience sampling. The effects of emotional support, social media, patient-centred communication, health self-efficacy and cancer beliefs on the emotional well-being of patients with cancer were analysed based on the structural equation model.

Results

A Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation among the six latent variables (P<0.01). The structural equation model path analysis showed that health self-efficacy (β=0.374, P<0.001), cancer belief (β=0.214, P=0.003) and emotional support (β=0.104, P=0.031) all had positive effects on emotional health. The mediating effect results showed that cancer beliefs had a mediating effect on mental health in social media use (β=0.106, P=0.001), emotional support (β=0.028, P=0.002) and patient-centred communication (β=0.050, P=0.002). Further, health self-efficacy had mediating effects on mental health in emotional support (β=0.084, P=0.001) and patient-centred communication (β=0.098, P=0.001).

Conclusion

By constructing structural equation models, this study found that emotional support, cancer beliefs and health self-efficacy showed a positive effect on the emotional well-being of patients with cancer. Further, it found a mediating role of health cancer beliefs on the impact of emotional support, social media use and patient-centred communication on mental health. Additionally, health self-efficacy has a mediating role regarding the effects of emotional support and patient-centred communication on mental health.

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Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Min Peng and Yinping Zhang contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu Gem Flower Hospital, Lanzhou, 730060, China

    Min Peng

  2. Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xian, 710061, China

    Min Peng & Yin-Ping Zhang

  3. School of Journalism and Communication, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou City, 730000, Gansu, China

    Yidong Wu

  4. Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK

    Ruoxi Li

Authors
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  4. Ruoxi Li
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Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yidong Wu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki. This study was conducted with approval from the Ethics Committee of School of Journalism and Communication, Lanzhou University. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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The manuscript is not submitted for publication or consideration elsewhere.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Peng, M., Zhang, YP., Wu, Y. et al. Analysis of the influential factors of the emotional health of patients with cancer based on the structural equation model: the role of social media and emotional support. Support Care Cancer 31, 417 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-023-07877-2

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