Deng ST, He XD, Yu F, Yang Y. Fertility concerns in reproductive-aged breast cancer patients: Correlation with negative psychology and social relationship quality, and influencing factors. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(8): 117305 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i8.117305]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yi Yang, Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400030, China. yangyi202512@163.com
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Psychology
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Deng ST, He XD, Yu F, Yang Y. Fertility concerns in reproductive-aged breast cancer patients: Correlation with negative psychology and social relationship quality, and influencing factors. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(8): 117305 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i8.117305]
World J Psychiatry. Aug 19, 2026; 16(8): 117305 Published online Aug 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i8.117305
Fertility concerns in reproductive-aged breast cancer patients: Correlation with negative psychology and social relationship quality, and influencing factors
Shu-Ting Deng, Xiao-Dong He, Feng Yu, Yi Yang
Shu-Ting Deng, Xiao-Dong He, Feng Yu, Yi Yang, Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
Author contributions: Deng ST designed the research and wrote the first manuscript; Deng ST, He XD, and Yu F contributed to conceiving the research and analyzing data; Deng ST and Yang Y conducted the analysis and provided guidance for the research. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital.
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Yi Yang, Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, No. 181 Hanyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400030, China. yangyi202512@163.com
Received: January 20, 2026 Revised: March 8, 2026 Accepted: April 22, 2026 Published online: August 19, 2026 Processing time: 184 Days and 19 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Patients of reproductive age with breast cancer (BC) experience different degrees of fertility concerns, which may aggravate negative psychological states, compromise social relationships, and hinder condition amelioration.
AIM
To examine fertility concerns in relation to negative psychology and social relationship quality in reproductive-age patients with BC, and analyzed the associated influencing factors.
METHODS
A total of 153 reproductive-aged BC patients (March 2022 to March 2025) were enrolled. All patients completed the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer (RCAC) Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale/Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Social Relational Quality Scale (SRQS) to assess fertility concerns, negative psychology, and social relationship quality, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine associations between RCAC scores and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, SDS, and SRQS scores. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify contributors related to fertility concerns.
RESULTS
The mean total RCAC score was (49.56 ± 6.59), with concerns regarding personal and child’s health being the most prominent. Anxiety was found in 37.91% and depression in 35.95% of the patients, mostly with mild symptoms. The total SRQS score was (45.04 ± 7.04). Fertility concerns were positively correlated with negative psychology and negatively correlated with social relationship quality. Uni- and multivariate analyses indicated that marital status (B = -2.219, P = 0.024), educational level (B = -2.248, P = 0.014), annual income (B = -3.886, P < 0.001), and number of children (B = -2.369, P = 0.011) were independent protective factors for fertility concerns among reproductive-aged BC women, whereas occupational status (B = 2.170, P = 0.018) and SDS (B = 2.958, P = 0.002) were independent risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Fertility concerns patients of reproductive age with BC are significantly correlated with negative psychological states and social relationship quality. Being married, employed, having a high school education or above, having an annual income of < 40000 yuan, having 0-1 children, or experiencing depression increases the risk of fertility concerns in this population.
Core Tip: This study enrolled 153 reproductive-aged breast cancer (BC) patients to clarify the relationship between fertility concerns, negative psychology, and social relationship quality, and to explore the influencing factors. The findings indicate that patients of reproductive age with BC generally experience fertility concerns to varying degrees. In clinical practice, attention should be directed toward high-risk groups, including those who are married, employed, highly educated, low-income earners, have few children, or experience depression. Comprehensive intervention strategies - such as fertility preservation consultation, psychological support with partners’ participation, and vocational rehabilitation guidance - are recommended to systematically alleviate fertility-related concerns and improve overall quality of life.
