The mediating role of appraisal on health-related quality of life in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (first diagnosed with cancer at age 15–39) are distinct within the cancer community due to their unique challenges and diverse psycho-behavioral characteristics. This study aimed to analyze psycho-behavioral pathways and further explore the mediating role of cognitive appraisals on AYA cancer survivors’ quality of life (QoL).

Three hundred and eighty-nine AYA cancer survivors were eligible for analyses and recruited to self-administer questionnaires on QoL (the Chinese version of EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 v3.0), resilience, coping, and appraisal on site. This study performed structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine pathways on QoL based on the Rapkin & Schwartz QoL Appraisal Model.

The average age of participants (47.6% female) was 32.7 ± 4.1 years. The SEM results closely fit the measured data (RMSEA = 0.053, GFI = 0.955, CFI = 0.964, SRMR = 0.052). The final model showed direct negative effects of later clinical-stage, more comorbidities, and more Acceptance-Resignation coping on QoL; indirect positive effects of better resilience on QoL through less Acceptance-Resignation coping (β = 0.286, P = 0.002). Appraisal mediated the effects of treatment and resilience on QoL (β = -0.024, P = 0.038). Further, Calm, Peaceful, and Active appraisal patterns were associated with improved Cognitive Functioning (β = 0.119, P = 0.009).

Appraisal, coping, and resilience could significantly mediate the effects of cancer and its treatment on the QoL of AYA cancer survivors. Future interventions targeting cognitive appraisals and psycho-behaviors will be helpful. Figuring out what matters to such a unique population and how they appraise a cancer diagnosis through treatment trajectories could help nurses adjust support.