Depressive symptoms among patients with lung cancer: Elucidating the roles of shame, guilt, and self-compassion
Abstract
The link between smoking and lung cancer predisposes patients to feeling shame and guilt, which increases risk for depression. To test the hypothesis shame would have a stronger association with depressive symptoms than guilt, a hierarchical regression was conducted. Three regressions were run to examine the associations of self-compassion with shame, guilt, and depressive symptoms. The best model to explain depressive symptoms included shame, but not guilt. Greater self-compassion was associated with less shame and fewer depressive symptoms, but not guilt. Results point to interventions targeting shame via enhancing self-compassion among patients with lung cancer and histories of smoking.
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Article first published online: January 21, 2021
Issue published: April 2022
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PubMed: 33478252
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