How Does Hedonic Aroma Impact Long-Term Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer? A Cross-Lagged Panel Model Analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Pereira, M (Author) Other; moreira, cs (Author) FCUP; Izdebski, P (Author) Other; Dias, ACP (Author) Other; Nogueira-Silva, C (Author) Other; Pereira, MG (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Vol. 19 No. 3, Article 1488

Final page: 9260

ISSN: 1661-7827

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-3NK

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159260

Abstract (EN): Depression and anxiety are common symptoms during and after adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer (BC), with implications on quality of life (QoL). The present study evaluates the temporal relationship between anxiety, depression, and QoL (primary outcomes), as well as the impact of hedonic aroma (essential oils) on this relationship. This is a secondary analysis of a previously reported randomized controlled trial, with two groups: an experimental group (n = 56), who were subjected to the inhalation of a self-selected essential oil during chemotherapy, and a control group (n = 56), who were only subjected to the standard treatment. The hedonic aroma intervention occurred in the second (T1), third (T2), and fourth (T3) chemotherapy sessions, three weeks apart from each other. The follow-up (T4) assessments took place three months after the end of the treatment. Cross-lagged panel models were estimated in the path analysis framework, using structural equation modeling methodology. Regarding the control group, the cross-lagged panel model showed that anxiety at T1 predicted anxiety at T3, which in turn predicted both QoL and depression at T4. In the experimental group, hedonic aroma intervention was associated with stability of anxiety and QoL over time from T1 to T3, with no longitudinal prediction at T4. For women undergoing standard chemotherapy treatment, anxiety was the main longitudinal precursor to depression and QoL three months after chemotherapy. Thus, essential oils could complement chemotherapy treatment for early-stage BC as a way to improve long-term emotional and QoL-related adjustment.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15