Depression, anxiety, stress and related factors among husbands of Iranian women with cancer: A cross-sectional study

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their related factors in husbands of women with cancer.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 400 husbands of women with cancer who referred to two cancer referral centers in Kashan (Isfahan, Iran) from April to August 2022. The demographic and medical data, the Larson Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ), and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were collected.

Results

The mean age of the husbands was 50.47 ± 10.16 years, and the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 15%, 17.5%, and 17.8%, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant associations between husbands' depression and age, involvement rate in caring for their wife, sexual satisfaction, and education level (p < 0.05). The rate of anxiety was also related to education level, economic status, housing status, the rate of involvement in caring for one's wife, sexual satisfaction, the duration of the woman's cancer, the degree of cancer progression, and the length of hospitalization due to cancer (p < 0.05). The stress rate also showed a significant correlation with age, educational level, degree of involvement in caring for one's wife, and duration of cancer (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The prevalence of psychological problems among husbands of women with cancer is remarkable. Therefore, based on the identified factors associated with these complications, supportive care programs can designed by health care professionals to improve mental health and reduce the suffering of husbands of patients with cancer.