Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42564119›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in aging2026

Loneliness and depression among older adults with cancer: an exploratory analysis of psychosocial constructs.

Addison Kitrel, Ellen Park, Elizabeth Schofield, Caraline Demirjian, Nisha Mehta, Erica Fortune, Christian Nelson, Rebecca Saracino

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Addison KitrelDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.
Ellen ParkYeshiva University Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, New York, NY, United States.
Elizabeth SchofieldDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.
Caraline DemirjianDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.
Nisha MehtaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.
Erica FortuneResearch and Training Institute, Cancer Support Community, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Christian NelsonWalther Center for Supportive Oncology, Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
Rebecca SaracinoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Loneliness is a common and clinically significant concern among older adults with cancer (OACs; age ≥70), who often experience heightened psychological distress compounded by aging-related challenges. The current study sought to identify the nature and magnitude of the relationships between loneliness and other psychosocial variables. Methods: Data were drawn from the baseline assessment of an ongoing randomized controlled trial of psychotherapy for distressed OACs. Loneliness was assessed using the PROMIS Social Isolation measure. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Psychosocial factors included attitudes toward aging, demoralization, and anxiety. Fully adjusted regression models were conducted to examine the independent associations of loneliness and psychosocial factors with depressive symptoms while accounting for demographic covariates. Results: Among 258 participants, social isolation was positively associated with depressive symptoms at the bivariate level (CES-D: r =.694; p <.001; HADS-D: r =.629, p <.001). In fully adjusted models, social isolation (p <.001), anxiety (p = 0.015), and demoralization (p = 0.001) were independently associated with depressive symptoms. Discussion: Findings suggest that loneliness is independently associated with depressive symptoms among distressed OACs, even when accounting for other psychosocial variables and demographic characteristics. Anxiety and demoralization showed stronger and more consistent associations with depressive symptoms than attitudes toward aging. Although causal direction cannot be inferred from cross-sectional data, results highlight potential psychosocial targets for intervention and underscore the need for longitudinal research to clarify the dynamic relationships among loneliness, psychosocial factors, and depression in OACs.

Indexed as

anxietyattitudes toward agingdemoralizationdepressiongeriatricslonelinessolder adults with cancerpsychooncology

Identifiers

PMID42564119
PMCPMC13442528

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.