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To investigate the status of social isolation among middle-aged and elderly breast cancer patients and identify its influencing factors. Additionally, to explore the mediating role of self-perception of aging between frailty and social isolation, as well as the moderating effect of menopausal symptoms.
A cross-sectional study guided by the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology.
This study was conducted on middle-aged and elderly breast cancer patients from September 2022 to February 2023 in Guangzhou, China. Related data were assessed by structural questionnaires. Correlation analysis and regression analysis were performed by SPSS 26.0 while PROCESS macro v4.0 was used to test the moderated mediation model.
Breast cancer patients aged 45–82 years experienced moderate social isolation. It was influenced by educational level, residence, menopause symptoms, self-perception of aging, and frailty. The moderated mediation model involving self-perception of aging and menopausal symptoms for explaining how frailty causes social isolation was supported. The mediating role of self-perception of aging gradually strengthens as menopausal symptoms become severe.
Social isolation resulting from frailty in middle-aged and elderly breast cancer patients is mediated by self-perception of aging, with menopausal symptoms amplifying this effect. Interventions focused on improving self-perception of aging and managing menopausal symptoms may help reduce social isolation by mitigating the impact of frailty.
This study highlights the importance of addressing frailty, self-perception of aging, and menopausal symptoms in clinical nursing practice, which may help reduce social isolation among breast cancer patients.
Patients contributed by completing the questionnaire, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the information with assistance from the research team.
It is extremely significant to explore the relationship between ruminative thinking and breathlessness catastrophizing among elderly COPD patients. However, the impact of self-efficacy on this relationship is still unclear. This study attempted to explore the mediating role of self-efficacy between ruminative thinking and breathlessness catastrophizing.
A cross-sectional study was reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
This study was conducted between 10 November 2024 and 25 January 2025, with 225 patients. Data were collected using the valid and reliable instruments, including the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) and the Breathlessness Catastrophizing Scale (BCS). Additionally, IBM SPSS v28.0 software was used to explore the mediating effect.
The scores for BCS of most patients were at moderate and high levels. Scores for the RRS and CSES were significantly correlated with the BCS. The analysis of the mediating effect demonstrated that ruminative thinking has a direct predictive effect on breathlessness catastrophizing. Additionally, ruminative thinking can also predict breathlessness catastrophizing indirectly through the mediation of self-efficacy. The direct effect accounted for 64.4% of the total effect.
This research revealed that self-efficacy played a partial mediating role in the relationship between ruminative thinking and breathlessness catastrophizing. Specifically, patients who were trapped in ruminative thinking were more likely to experience heightened breathlessness catastrophizing, but this relationship was mitigated by their level of self-efficacy.
This finding underscores the significant psychological burden that accompanies the physical symptoms of COPD in this demographic. It is imperative that nurses adopt a holistic approach in the management of elderly COPD patients.
Voluntary patients with elderly COPD hospitalised in the pneumology department were included in the study.
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