Association between Depression and Social Isolation among Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract Background: Cancer has been and still one of the most important challenges in our time until now. Depression after a mastectomy, anxiety, embarrassment, and suicide ideation/attempted are the most common psychological impact of breast cancer. One of the major significant risk factors for death from any cause was found to be a person’s level of social isolation. Objectives: To identify the association between depression and social isolation among study participants. Materials and Methods: A descriptive (cross-sectional) design study was conducted in Babylon Province from the period December 2021 to march 2023 aimed to identify the correlation between depression and social isolation among women with breast cancer. A non-probability convenience sample was selected from the Babylon Oncology Center in Marjan Medical City. The study sample consists of (100) women with breast cancer. To collect data using the interview method, it takes (25-30) minutes to complete the form. The data were examined utilizing statistical and descriptive data analysis methods using SPSS version 2.0). Results: The results of the present study show that the breast cancer women experience different depression’s level and social isolation, and there could be a significant relationship between depression and social isolation. There was an association between depression and social isolation and socio-demographic characteristics of study participants. Conclusions: Highly significant differences in the level of depression and social isolation with socio-demographical characteristics of the study sample were found at P > 0.05, whereas the study result shows that there were no-significant relationship with other socio-demographical data at P -value ( P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between depression and social isolation among women with breast cancer.