నైరూప్య

Pathway linking emotional suppression to depression and anxiety in cancer patients under chemotherapy: The mediating role of ego-strength.

Rasoul Heshmati, Chris Lo, Maryam Parnian Khooy, Elaheh Naseri

Background: Ego-strength, the developmental qualities which begin to animate man pervasively during successive stages of life, has an important role in psychological adaptation to cancer, especially when considering the outcomes of emotional suppression in cancer patients. However, the modulating effects of ego-strength on emotional suppression and symptoms of depression and anxiety has not been studied among cancer patients in previous research. This study aimed to investigate whether ego-strength mediates the relationship between emotional suppression and symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients. Methods: 120 cancer patients were recruited from a private hospital in Tabriz to complete baseline questionnaires. Depression, anxiety, ego-strength and emotional suppression were assessed by BDI-II, BAI, PIES and WAI respectively. Mediation models were tested using structural equation modeling, controlling for age and gender. Results: Emotional suppression was positively associated with depression and anxiety, and negatively associated with ego-strength. Ego-strength was negatively associated with depression and anxiety. Ego-strength partially mediated the relationship between emotional suppression and depression, and fully mediated the relationship between emotional suppression and anxiety. Conclusion: Ego-strength may help prevent the onset or unfavorable course of depression and anxiety in cancer patients.