Greater loneliness is linked to worse mental health of young adult cancer patients and, according to new research in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, this effect is intensified among those with a high tendency for interpersonal victimhood (TIV). The findings suggest that interpersonal victimhood might be an important factor that needs to be addressed to improve the overall well-being of this vulnerable group.
Understanding the psychosocial experiences of cancer patients, especially young adults, has been an area of growing interest in medical research. Previous studies have consistently shown that a cancer diagnosis during young adulthood is not just a medical challenge but also a profound psychological ordeal.
Young adults with cancer often report feeling isolated and disconnected from their peers, leading to intense feelings of loneliness. This loneliness, as past research suggests, can negatively impact both mental and physical health. However, what remained less explored was how patients’ personality traits, particularly their tendency to see themselves as victims in social interactions, might influence this relationship between loneliness and health.
“Most of my work is concerned with the psychosocial side of cancer, including how it affects our relationships, can cause feelings of loneliness, and negatively impact our mental and physical health,” said study author Colter D. Ray, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at The University of Tampa. “Recently, the tendency for interpersonal victimhood was offered by a team of social psychologists as a potential personality trait, and I figured that one’s tendency to play the victim card might affect how they view their own cancer diagnosis, feelings of loneliness, and their mental and physical health. ”
For his study, Ray recruited 140 young adult cancer patients and survivors, aged between 19 and 39 years, from various geographical locations without any restriction on the country or region. The participants represented a diverse group in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation, education, and socioeconomic status. They had experienced different types of cancer, ranging from lymphoma to breast cancer, and were at various stages of treatment.
The research process involved two online questionnaires. The first questionnaire assessed the participants’ TIV using a specialized scale, while the second, conducted about three months later, measured their levels of loneliness and mental and physical health. Loneliness was gauged using the University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale, a tool comprising 20 items that probe the frequency of feelings of isolation and lack of close connections. Mental and physical health were evaluated using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) global short form, which includes self-report items to assess overall well-being.
The study confirmed that loneliness significantly inversely impacts mental health among young adult cancer patients. In simpler terms, the lonelier the patients felt, the worse their mental health was. More importantly, this relationship between loneliness and mental health was found to be stronger in patients with a higher TIV. Essentially, those who frequently felt victimized in their interpersonal relationships experienced a greater negative impact of loneliness on their mental health.
In terms of physical health, while loneliness alone didn’t show a direct significant effect, it did when coupled with high TIV. Young adult cancer patients with higher TIV scores who felt lonely were more likely to report poorer physical health. This suggests a complex interaction between psychological factors and physical health outcomes.
“Loneliness continues to be an important predictor of mental health for young adult cancer patients, and this relationship is strengthened when a patient has a greater tendency for interpersonal victimhood,” Ray told PsyPost. “Unless you score particularly low on the tendency for interpersonal victimhood, that connection between loneliness and mental health is likely present. Interestingly, if someone scores above average on the tendency for interpersonal victimhood, they may also start to see a significant connection between loneliness and their physical health.”
However, the study is not without its limitations. The sample’s representativeness was skewed towards certain demographics, such as a higher proportion of LGBTQ individuals compared to general population statistics, and a majority of White participants. This calls for caution in generalizing these findings across all cultural backgrounds.
“Similar studies should be done to confirm these results and to see if certain aspects of the tendency for interpersonal victimhood are really accounting for the strengthening of the loneliness to health connection,” Ray explained. “The tendency for interpersonal victimhood is composed of four components (the need for recognition, lack of empathy, rumination, and a sense of moral superiority). Are all of these working towards strengthening the connection between loneliness and health or is it really just one or two of those components?”
The findings of this study underscore the potential consequences of loneliness. They call attention to the necessity of acknowledging and addressing loneliness not as a fleeting emotion, but as a critical component of health, particularly in vulnerable populations.
“Leaders in organizations and governments are starting to realize the pervasiveness of loneliness as a societal issue and its subsequent mental and physical health impacts,” Ray said. “For example, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared a loneliness epidemic and the insurance company Cigna found that approximately 60% of U.S. adults report being lonely.”
“This study looked specifically at cancer patients and the effects of loneliness on their health and how this might be exacerbated by a sense of victimhood. However, we should be consider the effects of loneliness and a sense of victimhood for the general population, too, and figuring out ways to foster social connection and a sense of community.”
The study, “The relationships between loneliness and mental and physical health are moderated by the tendency for interpersonal victimhood: A study of young adult cancer patients“, was published June 13, 2023.