Loneliness as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and anxiety in cancer survivor populations

Background Loneliness has been increasingly considered a major risk for mental and somatic health, particularly in vulnerable populations. Among them are long-term childhood cancer survivors (CCS). They are at risk for adverse late effects including psychosocial difficulties. In a large cohort from a cancer registry, we assessed the prevalence of loneliness and its impact on psychological symptoms over time. Method A registry-based sample of N = 633 adult long-term CCS underwent medical and psychologcal assessments and took part in a follow-up survey 2.5 years later. Psychological symptoms (somatic, anxiety, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation) were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire. We calculated linear regression models of symptoms at follow-up to investigate the impact of loneliness over time (controlling for symptoms at baseline and relevant confounders). Results Loneliness was reported by 17.70% of CCS. In multivariate linear regression analyses, loneliness was still predictive of more severe anxiety symptoms and.suicidal ideation over two years later, Loneliness did not predict somatic and depression symptoms at follow-up (which increased with age). Conclusions Loneliness affected a significant number of CCS and was a risk factor for persistent anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation. Findings of a heightened vulnerability in this group of cancer survivors are consistent with an additional representative survey in the general population (N = 2500) during the ongoing pandemic in which we found an increased risk for anxiety, suicidal ideation and loneliness among cancer survivors.