The Psychosocial Burden of Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study of Associations Between Sleep Quality, Anxiety, and Depression in Turkish Women
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy among women worldwide, with many patients experiencing persistent psychological symptoms that extend beyond active treatment. Among these, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression frequently co-occur and can significantly impair quality of life and treatment adherence. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality and examine its associations with anxiety and depression in a large cohort of Turkish women with breast cancer. Additionally, the study sought to identify sociodemographic and clinical predictors of sleep disturbance. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 601 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer who were undergoing or had completed active treatment were recruited from a tertiary oncology center in Turkey between January 2023 and December 2023. The mean age of participants was 54 years (range 25–83). More than half of the patients were postmenopausal (56.3%), and 6% had stage IV disease. Sleep quality and psychological distress were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multivariate regression models were employed to identify significant predictors. Results: Poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) was identified in 33.2% of participants. Patients with poor sleep reported significantly higher anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.001). Multivariate…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 601 participants or records.
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