Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2024.65.10 1
The mediating role of depressive, anxiety, and physical symptoms on work ability index in employed women with breast cancer: a prospective study from Croatia
Ivana Prga Borojević
; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Ines Amber Kincaid
; Aquilonis d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia
Martina Bago
; Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Tajana Prga Bajić
; Sveti Ivan University Psychiatric Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Ružica Valent
; Department for Quality Assurance and Improvement in Healthcare, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Klaudia Knezić
; Department of Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Bojana Knežević
orcid.org/0000-0001-5525-3775
; Department for Quality Assurance and Improvement in Healthcare, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Darko Marčinko
; Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Aim To explore the relationship between the current work
ability index (WAI) and depressive and anxiety symptoms
in breast cancer (BC) patients and the role of depressive,
anxiety, and physical symptoms in mediating this relation
-
ship.
Methods This prospective study enrolled 83 employed
women with BC. At baseline assessment (in the first three
months following BC diagnosis) and follow-up assessment
(one year after baseline), participants completed the WAI,
Beck Depression Inventory-II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory,
and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of
Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire with a breast cancerspecific module. Mediation analyses were conducted to
explore the mechanism by which depressive, anxiety, and
physical symptoms influenced the relationship between
WAI and depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Results WAI was negatively associated with depressive
and anxiety symptoms. The effect of baseline depressive
and trait anxiety symptoms on WAI at follow-up was me
-
diated by both depressive and trait anxiety symptoms, as
well as by physical symptoms at follow-up. The effect of
baseline state anxiety symptoms on WAI at follow-up was
mediated only by state anxiety symptoms at follow-up.
Conclusions Baseline depressive and anxiety symptoms
affect WAI at follow-up not only through persisting depres
-
sive and anxiety symptoms observed at follow-up but also
through physical symptoms at follow-up. This indicates
that efforts aimed at improving psychological health may
result in simultaneous improvements in both psychologi
-
cal and physical health, as well as the resulting WAI
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
331941
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2024.
Visits: 189 *