Perceived social support and depressive symptoms in Chinese patients with ovarian cancer and the mediating role of resilience:a cross-sectional study

Author(s): Xiaoyan Pang [sup.1] , Fangmei Li [sup.1] , Lei Dou [sup.1] , Yichang Tian [sup.1] , Yi Zhang [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.412636.4, 0000 0004 1757 9485, Department of [...]
Patients with ovarian cancer (OC) often suffer from depressive symptoms, but the associated factors only have a small number of reports. In view of increasing attention to positive psychological resources in the field of oncology, it is necessary to explore the effects of these resources on depressive symptoms. This study explored the relations between social support and depressive symptoms, and whether resilience played a mediating role. A cross-sectional study was performed between August 2018 and March 2019. Perceived social support, resilience, and depressive symptoms were measured with the Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to assess the mediating role of resilience between these variables. A total of 230 OC survivors were enrolled and finally 217 patients completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 50.7%. After controlling for covariates, perceived social support was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and explained 22.8% of the variance. In addition, after controlling for covariates and perceived social support, resilience was also negatively associated with depressive symptoms and explained 18.1% of the variance. Resilience could partially mediate the associations of perceived social support with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms in OC patients should be concerned. Perceived social support and resilience were both positive psychological resources for resisting depressive symptoms, and resilience could mediate the association between social support and depressive symptoms. It was critical to focus on social support as well as resilience in the psychosocial interventions of OC patients.