Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4593

Performative healing: The use of expressive dance to support emotional recovery after cancer diagnosis

by Rui Ou

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 92 Views

Despite growing interest in psychosocial interventions for cancer patients, existing supportive care approaches often insufficiently address embodied emotional expression during the early phase following diagnosis. This study investigates the potential of expressive dance as a performative and body-based healing practice to support emotional recovery after cancer diagnosis. Using a controlled intervention design, standardized psychological scales, behavioral ratings, and physiological indicators were employed to evaluate the effects of expressive dance on emotional recovery outcomes. The findings reveal that expressive dance facilitates emotional release, enhances self-awareness, and reconstructs patients’ sense of agency by integrating bodily movement with emotional meaning-making. Unlike conventional verbal or cognitive interventions, this approach emphasizes performative healing through embodied expression, offering a novel psychosocial pathway for emotional support in psycho-oncology. These results highlight the unique therapeutic value of expressive dance and suggest its potential integration into holistic cancer care frameworks.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 5487

The impact of digital tourism marketing on psychological recovery of cancer survivors: An empirical study from the perspective of sports tourism

by Yuyue Liao

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 35 Views

Background: Cancer survivors’ psychological recovery requires not only medical treatment but also psychological support and lifestyle interventions. Wellness tourism, particularly sports tourism, can improve psychological states while promoting physical health. However, mechanisms through which digital tourism marketing influences psychological recovery remain inadequately studied. Objective: To explore how digital tourism marketing affects cancer survivors’ wellness tourism motivation and analyze the mediating role of sports tourism participation in psychological recovery (psychological well-being and resilience). Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from 386 cancer patients in recovery at a tertiary hospital. Structural Equation Modeling tested direct effects of digital tourism marketing on wellness tourism motivation and mediating effects of sports tourism participation. Bootstrap method was used for mediation testing, and multi-group analysis compared differences across recovery stages. Results: Digital tourism marketing significantly enhanced wellness tourism motivation ( β = 0.52, p < 0.001). Sports tourism participation positively affected psychological well-being ( β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and psychological resilience ( β = 0.38, p < 0.001), partially mediating the relationship between wellness tourism motivation and psychological recovery. Multi-group analysis revealed stronger path coefficients for early-stage survivors (<6 months) compared to late-stage survivors (>12 months). Conclusion: Digital tourism marketing improves cancer survivors’ psychological well-being and resilience by stimulating wellness tourism motivation and promoting sports tourism participation. This study provides theoretical foundations and practical guidance for wellness tourism product design, psychological interventions, and digital marketing strategy development for cancer survivors.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4158

Rural literature and media innovation: Psychological support for cancer patients

by Yin Tang

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 37 Views

A cancer diagnosis is a serious condition that has a substantial impact on an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being, and their general health. This burden is more profound for cancer patients living in rural regions, where access to psychological support checks, advanced medical facilities, and community-based resources is restricted. The research aims to analyze the viability and tolerability of a novel psychological support intervention that combines rural literature and media innovation to tackle the exclusive challenges faced by cancer patients. A mixed-methods approach is employed, with a pre-and post-intervention survey and semi-structured interviews to assess the intervention’s impact on psychosocial well-being. The intervention is an 8-week media innovation (interactive digital tools) and literature-based intervention designed to address common cancer-specific stressors. A total of 31 participants, including both cancer survivors and those undergoing active treatment. Qualitative feedback from participants is collected through interviews and textual data, while quantitative data assesses changes in psychosocial well-being. The findings showed a post-intervention significant decrease in depressive symptoms and psychological distress, along with non-significant increases in mindfulness and Quality of Life (QoL). This research highlights the potential of combining media innovation and literature-based interventions to improve psychological support for cancer patients, particularly in rural settings, while also emphasizing the need for enhanced community engagement and access to digital resources.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4594

A sociological perspective on the improvement of social isolation in cancer patients by musical vocal activities

by Shengnan Dai

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 33 Views

Based on a sociological perspective, this study employed a randomized controlled trial to recruit 120 cancer patients, who were allocated to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received a 12-week music-vocal activity intervention in addition to routine rehabilitation care, while the control group received routine care only. Six outcome indicators were assessed: social isolation, perceived social support, frequency of social activities, vocal self-efficacy, quality of life in the social functioning dimension, and group cohesion. Results showed that all indicators in the experimental group improved significantly compared with baseline and with the control group ( P < 0.001), with the greatest improvements observed at 12 weeks. Intention-to-treat analyses with multiple imputation for missing data confirmed the robustness of the findings. The study demonstrates that systematic music and vocal activities can effectively reduce social isolation, enhance perceived social support, promote social participation, and improve both quality of life and group cohesion by strengthening patients’ self-efficacy and group identity. These results provide a promising pathway for social reconstruction during cancer rehabilitation.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4165

The role of traditional sports games in relieving psychological stress and enhancing social support for students with benign tumors

by Hutong Tian, Wenmei Dong, Hongjun Jin, Jialiang Guo, Yanrong Li

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 35 Views

Students diagnosed with benign tumors often experience psychological stress and social isolation, which can adversely affect their emotional well-being. Traditional sports games, which are culturally important and promote physical activity, offer a potential intervention to alleviate stress and improve social support. The research discovers the role of traditional sports games in relieving psychological stress and improving social support for students with benign tumors. A total of 131 students diagnosed with benign tumors were divided into two groups: the intervention group (IG) ( n = 91), which participated in traditional sports games, and the Control group (CG) ( n = 40), which continued with their regular activities without engaging in sports games. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was utilized to evaluate psychological stress, while the Social Support Scale (SSS) measured the level of social support received by participants, concentrating on emotional, informational, and instrumental support. The statistical analysis utilized IBM SPSS software version 29. The data were analyzed utilizing statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and correlation analysis. The IG attained positive outcomes across all factors, with emotional support at 90%, the group perceived cohesiveness at 88%, self-efficacy at 80%, 82% for informational support, 75% for instrumental support, and 68% for psychological stress1. Traditional sports games and team bonds facilitate positive interactions among students. This mode promotes emotional interaction, facilitating social interaction where players support and encourage each other through play, which helps them communicate emotionally. Consequently, these enjoyable social dynamics facilitate lowering psychological stress and a sense of community among students having benign tumors, which enhances our students’ psychological well-being. The results indicate that the IG displayed an important reduction in psychological stress, with developed PSS and SSS scores. Reductions in stress and anxiety, as well as increases in self-efficacy, were significantly correlated with group perceived cohesiveness. Traditional sports games help reduce stress and improve social support for students with benign tumors by fostering peer relationships, building a sense of community, and improving emotional well-being with health-focused programs.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 5460

A study on the influence of applied psychological nursing intervention on psychological stress and quality of life of terminally ill elderly cancer patients

by Leilei Gao, Qun Shen, Jingqian ang

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 6 Views

Objective: To investigate the effects of psychological nursing combined with palliative care on psychological stress and quality of life in elderly patients with malignant tumors. Methods: A total of 120 terminally ill elderly patients with malignant tumors were randomly assigned to an observation group ( n = 60) or a control group ( n = 60). The control group received palliative care, whereas the observation group received psychological nursing in addition to palliative care. Psychological stress and quality of life were compared between groups after the intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0, employing t -tests or χ 2 tests as appropriate. Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant reductions in pain intensity, pain beliefs, and the impact of pain on activities, along with increased satisfaction with pain control. The observation group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the control group ( P < 0.05). Quality-of-life scores increased significantly in both groups, with larger improvements in the observation group ( P < 0.05). Sleep indicators also improved: actual sleep duration increased, sleep latency shortened, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores decreased, with more pronounced changes in the observation group ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, scores for anxiety (HAMA), depression (HAMD), cancer-related fatigue, and dignity-related dimensions (social support, spiritual peace, independence, psychological status, and symptom distress) all decreased significantly in both groups, with greater reductions in the observation group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Psychological nursing combined with palliative care significantly reduces psychological stress, relieves pain, improves cancer-related fatigue, enhances sleep quality, and promotes dignity among terminally ill elderly patients with malignant tumors. This integrated approach shows considerable clinical value.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4232

Psychological motivation and adherence to physical activity participation in patients recovering from cancer

by Xiaoliang Liu, Lehai Lin, Fei Yang

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 0 Views

O bjective : To explore the types of motivation, adherence influences, and their interaction mechanisms of physical activity participation among patients in cancer rehabilitation and serve as a fundamental groundwork for devising tailored behavioral intervention strategies and enhancing adherence. M ethods : A mixed research method was used to include 300 patients recovering from breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. Quantitative analyses were conducted through the revised physical activity Motivation Inventory (EMI-2) and adherence logs, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 patients, and the data were integrated by using latent category analysis (LCA), multiple regression, and phenomenological analysis. R esults : Patient motivations were categorized as health maintenance (45.67%), social engagement (30.33%), and medically driven (24.00%); self-efficacy ( β = 0.32, p = 0.007) and the identification of core predictors, notably family support ( β = 0.25, p = 0.021); and the qualitative interviews revealed that medical guidance (76.67%) and digital tools (53.33%) were key facilitators, while physical fatigue (63.33%) was the main barrier. Adherence scores were significantly higher in health maintenance patients (72.31 ± 12.14 vs. 58.93 ± 18.29, p < 0.001). C onclusion : Physical activity behavior of patients in cancer rehabilitation is driven by both intrinsic motivation and external support, and the construction of a “doctor-patient-family-community” triadic support system can improve long-term adherence, and future research needs to deepen the intervention strategy by combining metabolic-immune mechanisms.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4348

Effects of social support and coping styles on the dynamic evolution of anxiety and depression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during radiochemotherapy and early recovery: A prospective cohort study

by Ni Zhou, Mulan Li, Pinggui Gong, Cui He, Hong Peng

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 0 Views

Background: Radiochemotherapy and subsequent rehabilitation impose significant psychological burdens on nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, who often experience anxiety and depression that undermine treatment compliance and quality of life. Previous studies suggest social support and coping styles can buffer psychological distress during cancer treatment; however, longitudinal research examining their dynamic impact during radiochemotherapy and rehabilitation remains scarce. Objective: This study explored the impact of social support and coping styles on changes in anxiety and depression among nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients undergoing radiochemotherapy and rehabilitation, providing a basis for individualized psychological interventions. Methods: A prospective cohort design was adopted. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) were administered before radiochemotherapy (T0), mid-treatment (T1), treatment completion (T2), and one month post-treatment (T3). Tumor stage and economic burden were also recorded. Changes in anxiety, depression, social support, and coping strategies were analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVA, while linear mixed-effects models evaluated the longitudinal influence of social support and coping styles. Results: Among 180 patients (107 males, 73 females; mean age 51.7 ± 7.2 years), anxiety scores significantly decreased from 6.39 ± 0.94 (T0) to 4.79 ± 0.68 (T3) (F=20.371, P<0.001); depression scores similarly decreased from 6.02 ± 0.68 to 4.63 ± 0.57 (F=18.426, P<0.001). Social support and positive coping increased significantly, while negative coping decreased (all P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed social support (B=−0.08, P<0.001) and positive coping (B=−0.12, P<0.001) were associated with reduced anxiety and depression, whereas negative coping and economic burden correlated positively (all P<0.01). Stratified analysis confirmed patients with high social support and strong coping skills exhibited consistently lower anxiety and depression (P<0.05). Conclusion: Strengthening social support networks and promoting positive coping strategies effectively reduce anxiety and depression during radiochemotherapy and rehabilitation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, enhancing treatment compliance and emotional well-being.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 4234

Quadratus lumborum block combined with multidimensional psychological intervention (CBT + mindfulness) on recovery and psychological status after gasless laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with gynecological malignancies: A randomized controlled tri

by Dong Wang, Huizhen Wu, Jing Tang, Shan Mo, Ruhong Zhou, Hong Li, Yixing He, Xu Zhang

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 0 Views

  Background: Postoperative pain and negative emotions are common in elderly patients with gynecological malignancies. High-quality evidence is lacking on how to achieve effective analgesia and psychological improvement during gasless laparoscopic surgery. Objective: To explore the effects of quadratus lumborum block combined with cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness training on postoperative pain control, relief of negative emotions, and functional recovery in this population. Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 120 elderly patients with gynecological malignancies meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group or control group. In the intervention group, quadratus lumborum block and multidimensional psychological intervention were applied perioperatively, in addition to routine analgesia and health education. The primary outcomes included pain scores at 6, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. Opioid consumption and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) bolus counts within 48 h were recorded. Secondary outcomes were postoperative changes in SAS and SDS scores, functional recovery, and complications. Statistical methods were used to analyze differences between groups. Results: Pain scores in the intervention group at 24 and 48 h postoperatively were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P < 0.05, repeated-measures ANOVA). Total opioid consumption and PCA bolus counts within 48 h were significantly reduced ( P < 0.01, t -test). SAS and SDS scores decreased more significantly at 24 and 48 h postoperatively in the intervention group ( P < 0.05, t -test). Times to ambulation and first flatus and defecation were significantly shorter ( P < 0.05, t / U test), and hospital stay was reduced ( P < 0.05, t -test). SF-36 scores before discharge were higher than in the control group ( P < 0.05, t -test), but no significant difference in complication rates was observed ( P > 0.05, χ 2 or Fisher test). Conclusion: Quadratus lumborum block combined with multidimensional psychological intervention effectively reduced postoperative pain, decreased opioid requirements, improved anxiety and depression, and promoted functional recovery and quality of life, proving to be safe and feasible.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 4362

Advance directives in cancer care: A psycho-oncological perspective on legal reform in China

by Man Teng Iong

Psycho-Oncologie , Vol.20, No.1, 2026; 74 Views

Background: Cancer patients face severe psychological challenges, manifesting as anxiety, depression and emotional distress throughout their treatment choices, palliative care transitions and end-of-life situations. These psychosocial burdens become worse because they cannot control the medical procedures which affect them. Advance Directives (ADs) serve as essential instruments that protect patient control of their medical decisions, minimize decisional uncertainty and guarantee medical care follows the patient’s individual worth and personal values. Objective: This paper evaluates the relationship between ADs and psycho-oncology through evidence showing their success in decreasing psychological distress in cancer patients and their families. The article examines how ADs function in specific cancer-related situations, such as end-of-life care, palliative treatment, mental health crises and cognitive decline from terminal illness. Methods: The research examines international ADs through policy review and a framework evaluation across American, German and UK systems, assessing their effects on patient care quality together with ethical and emotional outcomes. Regarding literature selection, this article uses “Advance Directives”, “Psycho-Oncology” and “Autonomy” as keywords in Google Scholar and Web of Science Core Collection for document search. The author verified the abstract and keywords of all searched articles and included only articles that are related to the topic. Findings: The absence of nationwide AD legislation in China creates psychological distress for cancer patients because families and clinicians frequently disregard patient choices, which results in moral distress and conflicts. Conclusion: The implementation of ADs represents a vital necessity to enhance the quality of psychological care for patients with cancer within China. A culturally appropriate AD framework would enable cancer patients to gain control while decreasing their psychosocial distress and following international human rights standards. The author advocates the implementation of ADs within psychosocial assessments and cancer care protocols to overcome patient autonomy barriers in both systemic and cultural contexts.