Key result
Steady partnership linked to ~82% lower loneliness risk in long-term prostate cancer survivors.
Why the study?
Research regarding the impact of loneliness on health-related quality of life and mental health outcomes in prostate cancer survivors is scarce.
What are the prevalence and determinants of loneliness in long-term prostate cancer survivors following radical prostatectomy?
Cross-Sectional (n=3,127)
Yes
What are the prevalence and determinants of loneliness in long-term prostate cancer survivors following radical prostatectomy?
Nearly one in five long-term prostate cancer survivors experience loneliness, which is strongly associated with the lack of a steady partnership, depression, anxiety, and frailty.
Partnership may protect against loneliness in older prostate cancer survivors; extends associations but leaves causal effects open for prospective trials.
BACKGROUND: Loneliness in cancer survivors is associated with a variety of negative consequences to physical and mental health. Research regarding the impact of loneliness on health-related quality of life and mental health outcomes in prostate cancer (PC) survivors is scarce. The current study aimed to investigate prevalence and determinants of loneliness in long-term PC survivors following radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: A total of 3127 PC survivors (mean age 79.5 years, SD 6.4) from the multicenter German Familial PC Database returned the study questionnaires during the COVID-19 pandemic, after an average of 17.4 years (SD = 3.8) following RP. Loneliness was assessed using a single item measure. Validated self-reporting questionnaires were used to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms, health related quality of life, and frailty. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were conducted to examine the prevalence, correlates, and determinants of loneliness in PC patients. RESULTS: Overall, 16.6% of patients reported at least some degree of loneliness. Partnership status, depression, and anxiety were significantly associated with loneliness. Individuals living in a partnership experienced lower levels of loneliness (p < 0.001), while higher levels of depression and anxiety were associated with increased loneliness (p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, having a steady partnership was associated with a significantly lower risk of loneliness (OR 0.18, 95%CI [0.13-0.24]). Symptoms of depression (OR 1.49, 95%CI [1.31-1.71]) or anxiety (OR 1.29, 95%CI [1.13-1.47]) or being frail (OR 3.97, 95%CI [2.99-5.28]) were independently associated with an increased risk of being lonely. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one in five PC survivors experienced some to severe loneliness in this study, with notable associations with partnership status, symptoms of depression or anxiety and frailty. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing loneliness as part of comprehensive care for PC survivors.
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Lunger et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Prostate cancer (n=3,127). Steady partnership vs. No steady partnership was evaluated on Loneliness (score ≥ 2 on single-item measure) (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.13-0.24, p=<0.001). Having a steady partnership significantly reduced the risk of loneliness in long-term prostate cancer survivors (OR 0.18), whereas frailty, depression, and anxiety independently increased the risk.
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