Browsing by Author "Perndorfer, Christine"
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Item Fear of cancer recurrence and sleep in couples coping with early-stage breast cancer(University of Delaware, 2019) Perndorfer, ChristineObjectives: Sleep disturbance and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) are common in breast cancer (BC) survivors. Yet, few studies have examined a putative link between these two constructs in BC survivors and none among these have also incorporated assessment of their spouses. Focusing on the period surrounding survivors’ first post-treatment mammogram, higher survivor and spouse FCR was hypothesized to predict reduced sleep quantity and quality and greater sleep disturbances for both partners. Methods: Fifty-seven couples coping with early-stage BC reported sleep duration, quality, and other disturbances each morning for 21 consecutive days spanning survivors’ first mammogram post-treatment. Three validated measures of global FCR formed latent survivor and spouse FCR factors. Average daily sleep and sleep on the eve of the mammogram were regressed on both survivor and spouse FCR. Results: Survivor FCR was associated with reduced average daily sleep duration and quality for themselves and greater sleep disturbances for their spouse. Spouse FCR was associated with reduced average daily sleep duration for themselves. On the eve of the mammogram, survivor FCR was associated with their own reduced sleep duration and quality as well as greater difficulty falling asleep for their spouse. Spouse FCR was associated with their own reduced sleep duration and quality as well as greater sleep disturbances for their partner. Conclusions: Findings supported individual and dyadic associations between FCR and sleep, addressing gaps in knowledge on FCR and health behaviors. FCR interventions may be a strategy for addressing sleep disturbance, and thereby long-term health.Item Longitudinal dyadic associations between fear of cancer recurrence and objective sleep disturbance: breast cancer survivors and partners in the first-year post-diagnosis(University of Delaware, 2022) Perndorfer, ChristineBackground: Sleep disturbance is common among breast cancer (BC) survivors. Partners of BC survivors also experience sleep disturbance and sleep is concordant within-couple. Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is related to self-reported sleep disturbance in BC survivors and partners. Yet, no studies have examined the relationship between FCR and objective sleep disturbance in BC survivors, their partners, or at the dyad level. The present study examined the relationship between FCR and objective sleep disturbance in couples coping with early-stage BC. We hypothesized that greater FCR is associated with greater objective sleep disturbance. Methods: In two, 21-day daily diary periods (the completion of adjuvant treatment and the first post-treatment mammogram), BC survivors and partners reported daily FCR and actigraphy-measured objective sleep disturbance. Multilevel dyadic path and actor-partner interdependence modeling estimated daily, within-person and within-couple associations between one’s own FCR and one’s own sleep disturbance (actor effects) as well as between one’s own FCR and one’s partner’s sleep disturbance (cross-partner effects). Results: At the first, post-treatment mammogram, on a day that a survivor reported more FCR than was typical for them, they also demonstrated shorter sleep period length and shorter total sleep time that night, after controlling for any daytime sleep from that same day. Otherwise, FCR was not significantly related to objective sleep disturbance, in both periods, for survivors or partners, actor or cross-partner effects. Conclusions: Across early survivorship, BC survivors and partners demonstrated elevated levels of objective sleep disturbance – particularly difficulties with sleep maintenance. However, findings suggest that FCR is not consistently linked to objective sleep disturbance in couples coping with early-stage BC.Item Psychosocial Impact of Cancer Care Disruptions in Women With Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic(Frontiers in Psychology, 2021-06-14) Soriano, Emily C.; Perndorfer, Christine; Otto, Amy K.; Fenech, Alyssa L.; Siegel, Scott D.; Dickson-Witmer, Diana; Clements, Lydia; Laurenceau, Jean-PhilippeBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in cancer care, and preliminary research suggests that these disruptions are associated with increased levels of psychosocial distress among cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to offer a descriptive report of the psychosocial functioning, perceived risk and fear of cancer progression, and COVID-19 pandemic impact and experiences in a unique, high-risk patient cohort: breast cancer survivors whose cancer treatment was delayed and/or changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 women with dual carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, or invasive breast cancer whose cancer surgery was postponed due to the pandemic. As they awaited delayed surgery or shortly after they received delayed surgery, participants completed questionnaires on psychosocial functioning (depression, anxiety, sleep, and quality of life), their perceived risk and fear of cancer progression, patient-provider communication about disruptions in their care, personal impact of the pandemic, worry/threat about COVID-19, and COVID-19 symptoms/diagnoses. Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations were computed among continuous study variables. Independent samples t-tests explored group differences in psychosocial functioning between survivors who were still awaiting delayed surgery and those who had recently received it. Results: Overall, the sample denied that the pandemic seriously negatively impacted their finances or resource access and reported low-to-moderate levels of psychosocial distress and fear about COVID-19. Twenty-six percent had clinically significant levels of fear of cancer progression, with levels comparable to other recent work. About a third were still awaiting delayed cancer surgery and this group reported lower satisfaction with communication from oncology providers but overall did not seem to report more psychosocial difficulties than those who already had surgery. Conclusion: Shortly before or after primary breast cancer surgery that was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this sample of survivors appears to be generally managing well psychosocially. However, many psychosocial difficulties (e.g., fear of cancer recurrence/progression) typically have an onset after the completion of treatment, therefore, research should continue to follow this cohort of cancer survivors as the pandemic’s direct impact on their care likely increases their risk for these difficulties later in survivorship.