Study On The Correlation Of Alexithymia With Depression And Social Support In Colorectal Cancer Patients

Objective:The porpuse of this reseaech is to describe the status of alexithymia,depression,and social support in colorectal cancer patients and analyze the influencing factors of alexithymia.Besides,the study explore the correlation of alexithymia with depression and social support in order to provide the basis and reference for understanding the status of psychological and social support needs of patients and reducing the level of alexithymia and depression and improving their social support.Methods:With convenience sampling method,We selected colorectal cancer patients who were being treated in two hospital of Changchun as research subjects.Then questionnaires were applied to 183 patients who met the inclusion criteria from July to December in 2016.The questionnaire included four parts: the General Information of colorectal cancer patients,the Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS-20),Zung selfrating Depression Scale(SDS),the Social Support Scale of Xiao Shuiyuan.In this study,the measurement data was described by Mean ± SE.The count data was described by frequency and constituent ratio.ANOVA analysis,t-test,and rank sum were used for the one-way analysis of variance.Multiple regression analysis was used for multiple-factor analysis.Spearman analysis and Pearson analysis were used for correlation analysis.All data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS13.0.Results:1.The total score of alexithymia in colorectal cancer patients was 59.54 + 7.35.The three dimensions of alexithymia score respectively:the score of difficulty identifying feelings was 21.25±4.64.The score of difficulty describing feelings was 14.16±2.66.The score of externally oriented thinking was 24.12±2.50.Alexithymia accounted for 45.4%,alexithymia tendencies accounted for 40.4%,nonalexithmia accounted for 14.2%.2.The total score of depression in patients with colorectal cancer was 54.37 +10.04,and the total score of social support was 37.55 +6.78.3.There were statistically differences on the alexithymia between the colorectal cancer patients with different characteristics,such as :BMI,education level,occupation status,residence,health insurance type,family average monthly income,distance from surgery,whether or not the stoma,the treatment is being accepted.4.Multivariate analysis showed that: there were four factors were included in the regression equation of the score of alexithymia in patients with colorectal cancer.Respectively: BMI,education level,occupation status,whether or not the stoma.5.There was statistically significant difference between depression and score of alexithymia including difficulty identifying feelings and difficulty describing feelings.There was not statistically significant difference in externally oriented thinking.There was statistically significant difference between social support and the alexithymia,and its each dimension score.6.The correlation analysis showed that alexithymia and depression was positively related with colorectal cancer,and social support was negatively correlated(P < 0.05).Conclusion:1.Colorectal cancer patients have alexithymia and depression,and depression is medium level.The status of social support of patients with colorectal cancer is better;2.The main influence factors of alexithymia of patients with colorectal cancer were BMI,educational level,occupation status,whether or not the stoma;3.The colorectal cancer patients with alexithymia and depression is positive correlation,between alexithymia and social support is negative correlation.