The Relationship between Ambivalence over Emotional Expression and Health-Related Quality of Life and Adherence to Treatment in Cancer Patients: The Mediating Role of Depression and Social Support: A Descriptive Study

Ambivalence over emotional expression plays an important role in quality of life and adherence to treatment in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of depression and social support in the relationship between ambivalence and quality of life and adherence to treatment in cancer patients.

The present study was descriptive and based on structural equation modeling. For this purpose, 206 cancer patients referred to Dezful medical centers in 2020 were selected by convenience sampling method and completed questionnaires of ambivalence over emotional expression, quality of life, adherence to treatment, depression, and social support. Data were analyzed using statistical methods of structural equation modeling and Pearson’s correlation.

The results showed that there was a negative and significant relationship between ambivalence and quality of life (β=-0.183), depression and adherence (β=-0.178) (p<0.05), ambivalence and social support (β=-0.411), between depression  and quality of life (β=-0.288) (p<0.01) and a positive and significant relationship between ambivalence and depression (β=0.441), social support and quality of life (β=0.221), social support and adherence to treatment (β=0.249) (p<0.01). The mediating role of depression and social support variables was confirmed.

Considering the mediating role of depression and social support in the relationship between ambivalence and quality of life and adherence to treatment, it is recommended in psychological therapies, in the first place, the variable of ambivalence to be examined and evaluated and the important role of mediating variables to be considered.