Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40419833›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

Perceived stigmatization in cancer patients during the first year after diagnosis: the role of socioeconomic status.

Jochen Ernst, Anne-Kathrin Köditz, Ute Goerling, Tanja Zimmermann, Beate Hornemann, Franziska Springer, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf

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Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jochen ErnstDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, D - 04103, Leipzig, Germany. jochen.ernst@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2374-3232
Anne-Kathrin KöditzDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, D - 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Ute GoerlingCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berlin, Germany.
Tanja ZimmermannDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, MHH - Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover, Germany.
Beate HornemannPsycho-Oncology, NCT/UCC - National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Franziska SpringerDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, D - 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Anja Mehnert-TheuerkaufDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, D - 04103, Leipzig, Germany.

Funding

Deutsche Krebshilfe 70113544, 70113613, 70113611
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeStigmatization in cancer patients leads to poorer health-related outcomes. The effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on stigmatization has not been investigated. We therefore aim to investigate, which differences in stigmatization in cancer patients regarding SES exist up to one year after diagnosis and which medical and demographic characteristics are associated with stigmatization.

methodsPatients with different solid cancer diagnoses were assessed within two months after diagnosis (t1) and at a 12-month follow-up (t2). Stigmatization was assessed using the Social Impact Scale (SIS), which comprises four dimensions: isolation, rejection, shame and financial insecurity. An SIS-total score can be computed. Bivariate and multiple regression analysis were performed.

resultsSix hundred-eighty patients completed the assessments (mean age 60.4; 51.2% male; most prevalent cancers: prostate (21.0%), skin (17.1%), breast (16.2%)). Stigmatization at t1 was moderate in all dimensions, independent of SES. It decreased at t2, especially in patients with middle or high SES (p < 0.001). Low SES was identified as a risk factor for stigmatization at t2 (p = 0.036 - p < 0.001). Other predictors include stigmatization at t1 as well as distress, disease stage and cancer diagnosis, e.g. lung cancer. The predictors explained 27-43% of the variance in stigmatization in the four dimensions resp. in the SIS-total score.

conclusionStigmatization after cancer diagnosis was dependent of SES. Reasons may be fewer social and economic resources, lower health literacy and insufficient consideration of the specific needs of this patient group in the healthcare system. IMPLICATION FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Patients with low SES should receive greater attention in the medical care system and in scientific research to identify and mitigate possible burdens and subsequent problems.

Indexed as

CancerDistressPsycho-oncologySocioeconomic statusStigmatization

Identifiers

PMID40419833

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