Neighborhood disadvantage and social isolation are associated with psychological and physical symptom burden in cancer survivors

The specific aim of this project was to test a model of neighborhood disadvantage and social isolation as potential correlates of physical and psychological symptoms in a sample of cancer survivors who are either in, or have recently completed, treatment. Participants were 846 cancer survivors who were currently in treatment (N = 400) or who had recently completed treatment (N = 446). The sample was 80% women with a mean age of 58.72 (SD = 12.81) years. The most common type of cancer represented in the sample was breast (51%). Participants completed measures of physical and psychological symptoms and social isolation and social support. These data were merged with the 2021 American Community Survey indicators of neighborhood disadvantage by zip code and county. After controlling for Hispanic ethnicity, education, and household income, survivors who resided in disadvantaged neighborhoods, as indicated by the fraction of residents living in poverty, receiving income assistance, without health insurance, and with less than a high school education, reported higher psychological and physical symptoms. Similarly, social isolation was positively associated with psychological symptoms and physical symptoms. Residing in a disadvantaged neighborhood and feeling socially isolated may represent independent risk factors for psychological morbidity and physical symptom burden among cancer survivors.