Article Sidebar
Views pdf: 37
NETWORK ANALYSIS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG MALE CANCER PATIENTS: A MULTICENTER CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients is a key clinical outcome that is substantially influenced by mental health problems. However, the interrelationships between mental health and specific domains of QoL, as revealed through network analysis, remain insufficiently understood. Objective: To identify key variables based on network centrality indices and to examine the correlational links between mental health and quality of life among male cancer patients. Methods: A multicentre cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to May 2025 among 155 male cancer patients recruited at the University Medical Center and Oncology Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Measurement tools included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD‐7), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9) for depression, the Distress Thermometer (DT), and the EORTC QLQ‐C30 for quality of life. Network analysis was performed in R using a Gaussian graphical model estimated via the graphical lasso and extended Bayesian information criterion (EBIC). Results: Depression was identified as the most central node in the network, followed by fatigue. Depression showed positive associations with insomnia, poor appetite, and pain. A symptom cluster comprising fatigue, dyspnea, and pain demonstrated strong positive intercorrelations. Both fatigue and depression were negatively correlated with global health status. Conclusion: Integrating mental health support with symptom management is essential to improve the quality of life among male cancer patients.
Article Details
Keywords
Mental health, Quality of life, Cancer patient, Male, Network analysis
References
2. Oechsle K, Ullrich A, Marx G, Benze G, Wowretzko F, Zhang Y, et al. Prevalence and Predictors of Distress, Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Bereaved Family Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Cancer. The American journal of hospice & palliative care. 2020;37(3):201-13.
3. Morrison EJ, Novotny PJ, Sloan JA, Yang P, Patten CA, Ruddy KJ, et al. Emotional Problems, Quality of Life, and Symptom Burden in Patients With Lung Cancer. Clinical lung cancer. 2017;18(5):497-503.
4. Hevey D. Network analysis: a brief overview and tutorial. Health psychology and behavioral medicine. 2018;6(1):301-28.
5. Muhetaer S, Mijiti P, Aierken K, Ziyin H, Talapuhan W, Tuoheti K, et al. A network approach to investigating the inter-relationship between health-related quality of life dimensions and depression in 1735 Chinese patients with heterogeneous cancers. Frontiers in public health. 2023;11:1325986.
6. Agasi-Idenburg SC, Thong MS, Punt CJ, Stuiver MM, Aaronson NK. Comparison of symptom clusters associated with fatigue in older and younger survivors of colorectal cancer. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. 2017;25(2):625-32.
7. Kim LX, Kim ST, Truong BNH, Van Do D, Pham DX, Kang JI, et al. Network analysis of the intercorrelations between quality of life, trait mindfulness, and mental health among patients with breast cancer. Scientific reports. 2025;15(1):24561.
8. Salvetti MG, Machado CSP, Donato SCT, Silva AMD. Prevalence of symptoms and quality of life of cancer patients. Revista brasileira de enfermagem. 2020;73(2):e20180287.