Psychological distress, anxiety, depression and suicide ideation in women with breast cancer in Windhoek

dc.contributor.advisorShino, E. N.
dc.contributor.authorMbangtang, Zara
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-31T07:49:12Z
dc.date.available2025-01-31T07:49:12Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s in Nursing Science
dc.description.abstractBreast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide and the most common cancer diagnosed in women. Additionally, it is the most prevalent malignancy among African women. In Namibia, breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer in women between 2010 and 2014, accounting for 1,579 cases, and constituted for 27.4% of all female cancer cases. Psychological distress is a normal response to a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. However, psychological distress often goes unrecognized and untreated in breast cancer patients due to priority given to the physical aspects of the disease. Psychological distress exists in the form of natural feelings of vulnerability, melancholy, and dread to more serious ailments including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, social isolation, and existential and spiritual crises. Distress and a psychological condition such as anxiety or depression exist on a continuum. Anxiety is prevalent in a cancer patient during critical events, such as the beginning of a new cancer treatment, receiving a recurrence diagnosis, or advancement of the illness. Depression is frequently cited as a psychological side effect of cancer, and it is one of the most researched psychological experiences. To the researcher's knowledge, there have been studies on psychological distress, anxiety and depression in Namibia, however, there are no studies in Namibia that have specifically focused on suicidal ideation in women with breast cancer. This study aimed to explore the levels of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation among women diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as the relationships between the variables. The research employed a quantitative, correlational, descriptive, and cross sectional design. Three self-report instruments and a self-designed sociodemographic questionnaire were utilized. These instruments included the Hospital Anxiety and ii Depression Scale (HADS) to assess the levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, the Emotion Thermometer (ET) to screen for psychological distress, and the Columbia– Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to assess suicide ideation. SPSS (version 29) was used to analyse the data. The levels of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation are described through descriptive statistics, that is, means, standard deviations, range of scores, and frequencies. The study involved 101 participants. Approximately 27.7% and 32.6% had significant levels of depression and anxiety, respectively. Approximately 47.5% (from the total ET score) displayed mild to severe levels of psychological distress, 30.7% had significant levels of psychological distress from the total HADS score, and 12.9% of the participants reported suicidal ideation. Strong positive correlations were identified between anxiety (measured by HADS-A) and depression (measured by HADS-D) (r = 0.64 , n = 101, p < 0.01). Additionally, significant strong positive correlations were observed between anxiety (measured by HADS-A) and psychological distress (total ET score) (r = 0.72 , n = 101, p < 0.01), and between depression (measured by HADS-D) and psychological distress (total ET score) (r = 0.52, n = 101, p < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant, strong, positive correlation existed between anxiety (measured by HADS-A) and suicide ideation (r = 0.53, n = 101, p < 0.01), while there was a significant, moderate, positive correlation between depression (measured by HADS-D) and suicide ideation (r = 0.34, n = 101, p < 0.01). Finally, there was also a significant, strong, positive correlation between psychological distress (total ET score) and suicide ideation (r = 0.50, n =101, p < 0.01). The study's findings align with global literature concerning the psychological challenges faced by women living with breast cancer. Given the prevalence of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation in this sample, the study advocates for psychological iii interventions for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Distress can be minimized by having a supportive family, social networks, and access to beneficial knowledge. Anxiety, depression and suicide ideation are mental health conditions that in severe cases requires evidence-based treatments. Psychotherapy or medication can be used to manage and treat symptoms. Furthermore, it is recommended that future research in Namibia consider qualitative approaches to better understand women's unique experiences with breast cancer
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11070/3930
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Namibia
dc.subjectPsychological distress
dc.subjectAnxiety
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectSuicide ideation
dc.subjectPsycho oncology
dc.subjectHADS
dc.subjectET
dc.subjectC-SSRS
dc.subjectUniversity of Namibia
dc.titlePsychological distress, anxiety, depression and suicide ideation in women with breast cancer in Windhoek
dc.typeThesis
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