Objective: Our primary aim was to assess the relationship between self-esteem and pain and suicidal thoughts in a sample of patients with various kinds of cancer.
Method: A total of 117 adult cancer patients were assessed with respect to several sociodemographic variables, the severity of pain, depression, and anxiety, current suicidal thoughts, hopelessness and self-esteem. Turkish versions of Visual Analog Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used in this study.
Results: The severity of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and current suicidal thoughts were significantly higher in patients with pain compared to patients without pain. Self-esteem was significantly reduced in subjects with pain. Previous history of psychiatric disorder and pain significantly predicted current suicidal thoughts status. Reduced self-esteem was significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, hopelessness, pain, and current suicidal thoughts.
Conclusions: Reduced self-esteem among cancer patients was particularly associated with a more severe pain, higher levels of depression, stronger feelings of hopelessness and current suicidal thoughts. Our findings might indicate that pain in cancer patients might have a negative influence on self-esteem leading to suicidal thoughts along with depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. Therefore, reduced self-esteem in cancer patients might be associated with suicidal ideations through pain, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness.
Key words: cancer, self-esteem, pain, suicide, depression, anxiety
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