Older women with breast cancer: caregiving and the risk of depression--an exploratory analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this exploratory analysis was to assess the prevalence of caregiving among older (60+) newly diagnosed female breast cancer patients and to examine the risk of depression associated with breast cancer, caregiving, and age, at 3 months and 12 months after diagnosis.


METHODS
Data from interviews conducted for the case-control study, Health and Functioning in Women with Breast Cancer (HFW), were used for this analysis. Interviews were conducted at 3 months and 12 months post-diagnosis. Participants for this analysis were restricted to those who completed both interviews (cases n = 904; controls n = 966). Risk of depression was assessed using a self-reported depression question from the HFW instrument.


RESULTS
The multivariate analysis showed that stage of breast cancer was significantly related to depression among older women with breast cancer while controlling for various socio-demographic factors; however, caregiving did not significantly increase the risk for depression for this population.


CONCLUSIONS
A breast cancer diagnosis for women, regardless of age or caregiving status, presented an increased risk of depression at 3 and 12 months post-diagnosis. These and other findings and their implications for social work practice are discussed.
Parrish
Monique M
MM
LifeCourse Care, PO Box 877, Orinda, CA 94563, USA.
Satariano
William A
WA
Freisthler
Bridget
B
Feinberg
Lynn Friss
LF
Adams
Sara
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012647:Self-Assessment