Incidence of sleep problems and their mediating role on depression and anxious preoccupation in patients with resected, non-advanced cancer: data from NEOcoping study

Abstract

Background: Our study analyzes the incidence of sleep problems and their mediating role on depression and anxious preoccupation in patients with resected, non-advanced cancer. Methods: A multi-institutional, prospective, observational study was conducted with 750 participants of 14 hospitals in Spain. Participants' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a standardized self-report form and using EORTC QoL-QLQ-C30, BSI, Mini-MAC questionnaires. Results: In women, sleep problems, depression and anxious preoccupation were observed in 65, 41 and 21%, respectively. In men, sleep problems, depression and anxious preoccupation were reported in 51, 29 and 61%, respectively. More sleep problems, depression and anxious preoccupation were found among women than males. Depression was a significant predictor of anxious preoccupation. In males, sleep problems partially mediated this association. This was not confirmed in women.