Mediating effect of ill perception on the relationship between social constraints and fear of cancer recurrence among adolescent and young adult survivors who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of ill perception (IP) on the relationship between social constraints (SC) and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among adolescent and young adult survivors who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AYA-HSCT survivors). METHODS: A total of 135 AYA-HSCT survivors were interviewed using the social constraints scale, the brief illness perception questionnaire and the fear of cancer recurrence inventory (short form). Next, the mediating effect of IP on the relationship between SC and FCR was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 79.3% (107/135) of the interviewed AYA-HSCT survivors revealed that they had clinical FCR. Notably, FCR had a significant positive correlation with both SC (r ​= ​0.362, P ​< ​0.001) and IP (r ​= ​0.457, P ​< ​0.001). Moreover, IP accounted for 42.1% of the total mediating effect on the relationship between SC and FCR in AYA-HSCT survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Scientific management of FCR is one of the most common and unmet needs of AYA-HSCT survivors. Results of the present study indicate that SC has a direct effect on FCR in AYA-HSCT survivors, affirming the need for families and social networks for AYA-HSCT survivors to encourage greater expression. Also, health professionals should educate survivors and their families on the importance of cancer home care. They should also empower survivors and their families with professional information, as well as practical, interpersonal, and emotional support. Our results further show that IP partially affects the relationship between SC and FCR. Therefore, the development and implementation of targeted interventions is imperative to the improvement of survivors’ IP.