Mixed models for repeated measures were used to examine the relationship between life stressors and QOL pre-surgery and one year later, while adjusting for age, cancer stage, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and chemotherapy status (at one year). Prospective associations between QOL pre-surgery and one-year QOL were also examined.
Number and severity of life stressors were unrelated to QOL of participants before surgery. At one year, however, participants experiencing a greater number of life stressors reported poorer concurrent physical well-being (PWB) (p = 0.015), functional well-being (FWB) (p < 0.0001), social well-being (SWB) (p = 0.0003), and total QOL (p < 0.0001). Similar effects were found for life event severity. Finally, experiencing a greater number of life stressors pre-surgery predicted poorer overall QOL one year post-diagnosis (p < 0.0001).
Non-cancer life stressors can substantially impact long-term QOL of ovarian cancer patients, adjusting for medical variables such as chemotherapy and cancer stage, thus highlighting the importance of evaluating the stress burden of patients in ongoing cancer care.