Hispanic Cancer Survivors Exposed to Multiple Natural Disasters: Pre–Post-Disaster Changes in Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Perceived Stress, and Physical Symptom Burden

Eida M. Castro-Figueroa (), Cristina Peña-Vargas (), Mónica Rodríguez-Santiago, Juan I. Figueroa, Ruthmarie Hernández, Zindie Rodríguez (), Heather Jim, Cristina Pereira, Normarie Torres-Blasco, Idhaliz Flores, Rosario Costas-Muñiz and Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena
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Eida M. Castro-Figueroa: Clinical Psychology Department, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Cristina Peña-Vargas: Clinical Psychology Department, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Mónica Rodríguez-Santiago: School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan 00935, Puerto Rico
Juan I. Figueroa: Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Ruthmarie Hernández: Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
Zindie Rodríguez: Clinical Psychology Department, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Heather Jim: Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Cristina Pereira: Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Battle Creek, MI 49037, USA
Normarie Torres-Blasco: Clinical Psychology Department, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Idhaliz Flores: Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico
Rosario Costas-Muñiz: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena: Biomedical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 00716, Puerto Rico

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Studies evaluating the effects of natural disasters on cancer outcomes are scarce, especially among USA ethnic minority groups, and none have focused on the effects of concurrent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this secondary data analysis is to explore the impact of concurrent exposure to COVID-19 and earthquakes on psychological distress and symptom burden among Puerto Rican cancer survivors. Methods: This secondary data analysis ( n = 101) was part of a longitudinal case–control cohort study ( n = 402) aimed at describing unmet psychological needs among Puerto Rican cancer patients and non-cancer subjects previously exposed to Hurricane María in 2017. The research team pooled data from participants (cancer survivors and non-cancer group) from their baseline assessments and from follow-up assessments conducted during January–July 2020 (earthquake and the lockdown period). A descriptive, paired t -test, non-parametric mean rank test, and two-sided Pearson correlation analyses were performed. Results: Psychological distress and cancer symptom burden diminished over time. Resilience was significantly correlated with all the psychological and symptom burden variables during both pre- and post-earthquake and COVID-19 assessment periods. Conclusions: The results support the role of resilience, social support, and post-traumatic growth as potential protective factors preventing psychological distress and diminishing cancer symptom burden among cancer survivors exposed to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: earthquakes; natural disasters; COVID-19 pandemic; cancer symptom burden; psychological distress; PTSD; perceived stress; resilience; social support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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