Mediating role of fear of progression between sensory processing sensitivity and stigma in lung cancer patients: a cross-sectional study^†

Abstract Objective To explore the association of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and stigma as well as the mediating role of fear of progression (FoP) in lung cancer patients. Methods Two hundred and forty-two lung cancer patients completed a self-reported questionnaire, which included the highly sensitive person scale (HSPS), fear of progression questionnaire-short form (FoP-Q-SF), and the Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale (CLCSS). Results CLCSS was positively correlated with FoP (Pearson correlation = 0.217, P < 0.01) and HSPS (Pearson correlation = 0.187, P < 0.01), FoP was positively correlated with HSPS (Pearson correlation = 0.199, P < 0.01). FoP played a mediating role between SPS and stigma (a × b = 0.025, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.004, 0.054]), and the proportion of mediating effect (ab/c) was 21% (ab = 0.025, c = 0.120). Conclusions Patients with higher SPS reported higher level of stigma, and FoP has a mediating role between SPS and stigma. Our discussion deemed that psychological intervention may help higher SPS patients reduce the harm of FoP and further reduce stigma.