Depression among Latina cervical cancer patients

This study was designed to begin to address gaps in the literature on psychological adjustment in minority cancer patients. We interviewed 50 indigent, Latina cervical cancer patients who were being treated in a large, urban, county hospital. The goals of the study were to describe patients' cancer-related and contextual experiences and to determine whether aspects of patients' experiences could predict depression. Patients reported high levels of depression and of stress related to socioeconomic and immigration status. Although patients appeared to have good social support overall, most wanted additional access to cancer-related support. As hypothesized, contextual variables, general social support and stress, were significant predictors of depression. Additionally, some cancer-related variables, specifically physical symptoms associated with radiation and practical barriers to receiving treatment, added significantly to the prediction of depression.