Depression among Latina cervical cancer patients

This study was designed to begin to address gaps in the literature on psych ological adjustment in minority cancer patients. We interviewed 50 indigent , Latina cervical cancer patients who were being treated in a large, urban, county hospital. The goals of the study were to describe patients' cancer- related and contextual experiences and to determine whether aspects of pati ents' experiences could predict depression. Patients reported high levels o f depression and of stress related to socioeconomic and immigration status. Although patients appeared to have good social support overall, most wante d additional access to cancer-related support. As hypothesized, contextual variables, general social support and stress, were significant predictors o f depression. Additionally, some cancer-related variables, specifically phy sical symptoms associated with radiation and practical barriers to receivin g treatment, added significantly to the prediction of depression.