Latent profile analysis of emotional inhibition in older adults with gastrointestinal tumors: A cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aimed to explore the current status of emotional inhibition in older adults with gastrointestinal tumors and to analyse its influencing factors.

Methods

From September to November 2024, 362 older adults with gastrointestinal tumors completed a self-designed questionnaire on demographic and clinical characteristics, an emotional inhibition scale, a self–esteem scale, and a multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Latent profile analysis was used to classify emotional inhibition in the participants, and multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the factors influencing each subgroup.

Results

Based on the level of emotional inhibition, older adults with gastrointestinal cancer were divided into three subgroups: “low emotional inhibition-active disclosure" (40.0%), “medium emotional inhibition" (41.2%), and “high emotional inhibition-disguise feelings group" (18.8%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex, living conditions, disease stage, self-esteem level, and perceived social support were factors influencing participants’ emotional inhibition (P ​< 0.05).

Conclusions

Emotional inhibition levels vary among older adults with gastrointestinal cancer. Medical staff should consider the characteristics, self-esteem, and perceived social support of the patients. Additionally, more targeted interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural group therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, should be developed to reduce patients’ emotional inhibition.