Aims: To review the psychosocial risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC),
report the types and explore their association with CRC.
Methods: We
followed PRISMA guidelines to conduct the systematic review. We searched
electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO and EMBASE) and
hand searched up to 15th April 2015 for studies on psychosocial or stress or
depression or anxiety or personality or support or coping as risk factor for
CRC. We extracted information about the place of the study, study design,
measurement tools, participant’s characteristics, psychosocial risk factor and
its association with CRC. We limited the studies in English language only.
The findings were synthesized and analysed. We presented them in tables
and text.
Results: We identified eight research papers which met the criteria.
The studies reported four different types of psychosocial factor i.e.
personality, stress, anxiety and depression. Four studies explored on
personality, two on stress, one on anxiety and one on depression. There were
four case-control studies and three longitudinal prospective studies. Two of
the studies showed a significant association between personality and risk of
CRC and two studies reported otherwise. Aggressive-hostility personality
and negative emotions were significantly associated with risk of CRC. One
study reported high level of job stress, higher anxiety levels and high level of
depressive symptoms in females was also associated with increased risk of
CRC. However, one study showed a lower risk of CRC in highly stressed
females and no clear relationship between stress and risk of CRC in men.
Conclusion: There is still inconclusive evidence to show that psychosocial
factors are risk for colorectal cancer.