{"title":"Gender as a Contextual Factor in Quality of Life of Cancer Survivors: A Literature Review.","authors":"Irene Göttgens, Sabine Oertelt-Prigione","doi":"10.1159/000543067","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cancer survivorship brings numerous challenges extending beyond physical health to include psychological, social, and functional aspects that define the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. Although recognizing that diverse gender experiences lead to different ways of coping with these challenges, many clinical trials fail to account for the distinct constructs of \"sex\" and \"gender,\" often conflating the two. This review highlights how gender-related aspects can manifest in core QoL domains for cancer survivors, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and effective support systems and interventions.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>While interest in the impact of gender is increasing in cancer survivor research, the terms \"sex\" and \"gender\" are still often conflated in research. Gender is a social concept consisting of multiple dimensions, such as gender identity, gender roles and norms, and gender relations. Each of these dimensions can have a distinct impact on the QoL domain of cancer survivors. Research indicates that not gender identity, but gender roles, norms, and relations can significantly influence coping behaviors that, subsequently, impact QoL domains such as physical, emotional, social, and role functioning. Understanding the interplay of gender roles, norms, and their relations with other contextual social factors is crucial for developing inclusive and effective support systems and interventions for cancer survivors.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>Gender roles and norms impact important QoL domains of cancer survivors. It is important to recognize that gendered behaviors, as a result of internalized or socially desired gender roles and norms, can both help and hinder effective coping with cancer, affecting QoL.</p>","PeriodicalId":19543,"journal":{"name":"Oncology Research and Treatment","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Oncology Research and Treatment","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000543067","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Cancer survivorship brings numerous challenges extending beyond physical health to include psychological, social, and functional aspects that define the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. Although recognizing that diverse gender experiences lead to different ways of coping with these challenges, many clinical trials fail to account for the distinct constructs of "sex" and "gender," often conflating the two. This review highlights how gender-related aspects can manifest in core QoL domains for cancer survivors, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and effective support systems and interventions.
Summary: While interest in the impact of gender is increasing in cancer survivor research, the terms "sex" and "gender" are still often conflated in research. Gender is a social concept consisting of multiple dimensions, such as gender identity, gender roles and norms, and gender relations. Each of these dimensions can have a distinct impact on the QoL domain of cancer survivors. Research indicates that not gender identity, but gender roles, norms, and relations can significantly influence coping behaviors that, subsequently, impact QoL domains such as physical, emotional, social, and role functioning. Understanding the interplay of gender roles, norms, and their relations with other contextual social factors is crucial for developing inclusive and effective support systems and interventions for cancer survivors.
Key messages: Gender roles and norms impact important QoL domains of cancer survivors. It is important to recognize that gendered behaviors, as a result of internalized or socially desired gender roles and norms, can both help and hinder effective coping with cancer, affecting QoL.
期刊介绍:
With the first issue in 2014, the journal ''Onkologie'' has changed its title to ''Oncology Research and Treatment''. By this change, publisher and editor set the scene for the further development of this interdisciplinary journal. The English title makes it clear that the articles are published in English – a logical step for the journal, which is listed in all relevant international databases. For excellent manuscripts, a ''Fast Track'' was introduced: The review is carried out within 2 weeks; after acceptance the papers are published online within 14 days and immediately released as ''Editor’s Choice'' to provide the authors with maximum visibility of their results. Interesting case reports are published in the section ''Novel Insights from Clinical Practice'' which clearly highlights the scientific advances which the report presents.