Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1490:247-256. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_27.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect perceived stress, mental resilience, and quality of life in cancer patients and the associations between these variables.
METHODS: A quantitative, observational correlational study was conducted in the day unit of a central oncology center of Athens, Greece. Through convenience sampling, 120 cancer patients were recruited. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) questionnaire, mental resilience with the Resilience Scale (RS-14), and quality of life with the EORTC QLQ-C30 v.3.
RESULTS: 51.7% of patients were women and had breast cancer (25%). The mean age was 65.28 ± 9.98 years. The mean PSS score was18.73 ± 7.83, while the RS score was 81.04 ± 11.46. The mean score of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale was 81.04 ± 11.46. Statistically significant negative correlations were observed between all subscales of the PSS scale with the functional subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (r = -0.27- -0.58, p < 0.05), while statistically significant positive correlations were observed between the scale PSS and the symptom subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (r = 0.21-0.44, p < 0.05). The PSS total score was correlated with RS total score (r = -0.42, p < 0.01). The PSS score was a statistically significant negative predictor of the EORTC QLQ-C30 total score (b = -0.54, p < 0.001), while the RS score was not a predictive factor.
CONCLUSION: Perceived stress, mental resilience, and quality of life in cancer patients are influenced and related. The extent of their influence depends on the individual characteristics of the patients but also on the support they receive and certainly requires further research.
PMID:41479089 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_27
