Poor sleep was common among adults with cancer, and mental health and resilience were independently associated with sleep quality beyond clinical characteristics, highlighting the relevance of considering psychosocial factors alongside clinical characteristics when assessing sleep problems in supportive oncology care.
Poor sleep quality was highly prevalent among adults with cancer in this sample.
Being 1-3 years post-diagnosis was independently associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality.
Having received radiotherapy was independently associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality.
Higher mental health summary scores were associated with lower odds of poor sleep quality after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Higher resilience was independently associated with lower odds of poor sleep quality after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical factors.
The final hierarchical regression model explained 34.1% of the variance in sleep quality scores.
This research suggests that sleep problems are very common among Korean adults living with cancer, with more than four in ten study participants classified as poor sleepers. The study examined 159 cancer patients and found that certain clinical factors — specifically being 1 to 3 years past their cancer diagnosis and having received radiation therapy — were linked to a higher likelihood of poor sleep. Importantly, the researchers also found that better mental health and greater personal resilience were each independently linked to better sleep quality, even after accounting for medical and demographic characteristics. The study is notable because it looked at both the physical symptom burden and psychological factors together, rather than examining them separately. The finding that resilience — a person's ability to bounce back from adversity — was associated with better sleep quality alongside mental health status suggests that psychological strengths matter for sleep outcomes in cancer patients, not just the medical aspects of their illness or treatment. This research suggests that healthcare providers caring for cancer patients should consider psychosocial factors like mental health status and resilience when evaluating and addressing sleep problems, rather than focusing solely on clinical or disease-related characteristics. Supportive oncology care that addresses psychological wellbeing and builds resilience may be relevant to improving sleep quality in this population.
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Upload Your LabsPark R, Lee S. (2026). Sleep Quality in Adults with Cancer: Associations with Symptom Burden and Psychological Resilience.. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11353-y