Cognitive and Situational Precipitants of Loneliness Among Patients With Cancer: A Qualitative Analysis

摘要

Feeling socially connected is a critical aspect of well-being; in the absence of social connection, individuals experience loneliness. Theorists have denned loneliness as the perception of social isolation and dissatisfaction with the quality of relationships (Cacioppo et al., 2006; Peplau & Perlman, 1982). Loneliness is a known risk factor for a number of poor physical and mental health outcomes in the general population (Cacioppo & Hawkley, 2009; Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2003), and preliminary research suggests that loneliness is also associated with poor health outcomes in people with cancer (Drageset, Eide, Kirkevold, & Ranhoff, 2013; Jaremka et al., 2014; Jaremka, Fagundes, Glaser, et al., 2013; Nausheen et al., 2010). For example, higher levels of loneliness have predicted worse immune functioning and greater depressive symptoms, fatigue, pain, and all-cause mortality in those with cancer (Drageset et al., 2013; Jaremka et al., 2014; Jaremka, Fagundes, Glaser, et al., 2013; Nausheen et al., 2010).