The role of mindfulness in distress and quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer

Abstract

Objective: To examine the extent to which mindfulness skills influence psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in men with metastatic or castration-resistant biochemical progression of prostate cancer. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional survey of 190 men (46 % response; mean age 71 years, SD = 8.7, range 40–91 years) with advanced prostate cancer, assessed psychological and cancer-specific distress, HRQOL. Mindfulness skills were assessed as potential predictors of adjustment outcomes. Results: Overall, 39 % of men reported high psychological distress. One third had accessed psychological support previously although only 10 % were under current psychological care. One quarter had accessed a prostate cancer support group in the past six months. Higher HRQOL and lower cancer-specific and global psychological distress were related to non-judging of inner experience (p < 0.001). Higher HRQOL and lower psychological distress were related to acting with awareness (p < 0.001). Lower distress was also related to higher non-reactivity to inner experience and a lower level of observing (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Men with advanced prostate cancer are at risk of poor psychological outcomes. Psychological flexibility may be a promising target for interventions to improve adjustment outcomes in this patient group. Clinical Trial Registry: Trial Registration: ACTRN12612000306819 © 2016, The Author(s).

Document Type

Journal Article

Location of the Work

Netherlands

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences / Health and Wellness Institute

RAS ID

22638

Copyright

free_to_read

Publisher

Springer

Comments

Chambers, S. K., Foley, E., Clutton, S., McDowall, R., Occhipinti, S., Berry, M., ... & Davis, I. D. (2016). The role of mindfulness in distress and quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer. Quality of Life Research, 25(12), 3027-3035. Available here.

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1007/s11136-016-1341-3