PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN MALE AND FEMALE CANCER (LYMPHOMA) PATIENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SELFESTEEM

Abstract

Lymphoma is a life-threatening disease that not only affects physical health but also has a profound psychological impact on patients. Anxiety and depression are among the most common psychological problems experienced by cancer patients and may negatively influence self-esteem and quality of life. Gender differences in psychological distress among lymphoma patients remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among male and female lymphoma patients and to determine the association between anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 150 male and female lymphoma patients aged 18–60 years receiving active cancer treatment. Participants were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique from oncology settings. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), while self-esteem was evaluated through the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. The findings revealed that moderate anxiety (26.7%) and moderate depression (28.0%) were highly prevalent among lymphoma patients. Low self-esteem was observed in 43.3% of participants. The chi-square analysis demonstrated a significant association between anxiety and self-esteem (p = 0.001), as well as between depression and self-esteem (p = 0.001). Higher levels of anxiety and depression were associated with lower self-esteem scores. Both anxiety and depression showed statistically significant associations with self-esteem (p=0.001). Anxiety and depression significantly reduce self-esteem among lymphoma patients. The study highlights the importance of psychosocial interventions in oncology care to improve mental well-being in cancer patients.