Identity, Resilience and their Psychological Impact Among Older Adults with Cancer

Older adults (65+) make up 60% of cancer diagnoses and 70% of deaths related to cancer (Marosi & Köller, 2016). Although this age group experiences significant distress, behavioral studies investigating distress tend to be overrepresented by younger populations, leaving a gap in the knowledge about the distress needs of older adults (Chang et al., 2020). To bridge this gap, Dr. Katherine Ramos and Dr. Timothy Strauman of Duke University's Psychology Department conducted a pilot study that found two major themes related to distress in older adults: identity and resilience. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological impact of identity and resilience on the distress experienced by older adults with cancer. Using the two qualitative themes, identity and resilience, the researchers of this study conducted a narrative synthesis of contemporary literature surrounding identity, resilience, and their psychological impact on distress in older adults with cancer. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRIMSA) guidelines, the study found nine eligible articles. The study conducted a thematic analysis of the articles in this synthesis and found six themes: (1) reconstructing identity after diagnosis, (2) experiencing anxiety due to uncertainty of cancer outcomes, (3) needing to "push along" through a cancer diagnosis, (4) having access to social support increases resilience, (5) experiencing low resilience leads to demoralization, and (6) navigating cancer requires redefining oneself to confront cancer challenges. Future directions and clinical implications include adapting Self-System Therapy (SST) as a mental health intervention for older adults with cancer.