Terminal cancer patients who adopt a positive and proactive outlook on life may experience significantly longer survival, even if they are also battling depression. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 20 (Korea Bizwire) — A new study by researchers at Seoul National University Hospital suggests that terminal cancer patients who maintain a positive, proactive attitude toward life may live significantly longer — regardless of whether they suffer from depression.
The study, published this week in the journal BMC Psychiatry, found that patients with poor coping mechanisms and depression faced a 4.63 times higher risk of death within one year than those who exhibited strong proactive positivity.
Notably, patients who demonstrated high levels of positivity showed no significant difference in survival whether or not they were also diagnosed with depression.
The research team, led by Professors Yoon Young-ho and Yoon Je-yeon, analyzed 144 terminal cancer patients whose life expectancy had been projected at less than one year.
Patients were divided into four groups based on their level of “proactive positivity” — the ability to reframe adversity, remain emotionally resilient, and actively seek solutions — and whether or not they were diagnosed with clinical depression.
A new study by researchers suggests that terminal cancer patients who maintain a positive, proactive attitude toward life may live significantly longer. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
“Patients who lacked this positive coping ability were far more vulnerable, especially when depression was also present,” said Professor Yoon Je-yeon. “But when patients had strong positivity, even those with depression showed no marked increase in mortality.”
The findings suggest that a proactive psychological outlook may be a more powerful factor in patient survival than depression alone, upending conventional assumptions in palliative care.
With approximately 30 percent of cancer patients known to experience depression, the researchers emphasized that fostering a constructive mindset may be a more impactful intervention than focusing solely on mood disorders. The study also proposes integrating positivity training into mental health support for terminally ill patients.
The research adds to a growing body of evidence advocating for psychosocial interventions in cancer care, aligning with broader efforts under the Lee Jae-myung administration to improve holistic patient outcomes.
As South Korea navigates evolving healthcare challenges amid demographic shifts, such findings may shape future public health and palliative care strategies.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
