ABSTRACT
Background/Purpose: Prior to the pandemic, patients with lung cancer commonly experienced stigmatization, high symptom burden, and unmet supportive care needs, placing them at increased risk for psychosocial morbidities during COVID-19. These risks necessitate investigation into how lung cancer patients have been coping during the pandemic. Methods: This study investigated COVID-19-related burden and behavioral coping utilized by 65 lung cancer patients receiving treatment at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center between August 2020 and June 2021. Measurements included selfreport demographics, COVID-19 burden (Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Cancer Survivors Questionnaire, Penedo et al., 2020), psychosocial well-being (PROMIS Anxiety4a and Depression4a), and coping strategies (Brief COPE, Carver 1997). Results: Most participants identified as female (n = 43), non- Hispanic White (n = 53), partnered (n = 38), and diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (n = 45);and most reported feeling anxious about contracting COVID-19 (n = 38;58.5%) and concerned that their cancer status increased their risk of dying (n = 47;72.3%). However, average PROMIS T-scores for anxiety (M = 53.59, SD = 9.05) and depression (M = 51.19, SD = 8.30) were similar to normed national averages. Participants primarily endorsed acceptance, active coping, and the use of emotional support coping strategies. Higher total COVID-19 burden was associated with greater use of venting, behavioral disengagement, and self-blame coping strategies. Higher total COVID-19 burden was associated with greater anxiety (r = 0.489;p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.414;p < 0.001). Greater anxiety was associated with higher use of religion, venting, denial, substance use, and selfblame coping strategies. Greater depression was associated with greater reliance on instrumental support, venting, denial, substance use, and self-blame strategies. Conclusions and Implications: Participants recognized their heightened risks and utilized effective coping strategies during COVID-19. Use of acceptance, active coping, and emotional support may impact lung cancer patients' appraisals of COVID-19 and psychosocial wellbeing.