Psychosocial health is associated with objectively assessed sedentary time and light intensity physical activity among lung cancer survivors

Lung cancer survivors report among the highest levels of depression and anxiety compared to other tumor groups. To date, no studies have examined associations of accelerometer-assessed activity and sedentary time with psychosocial health outcomes among lung cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to determine associations of accelerometer-assessed light intensity physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time with psychosocial health among lung cancer survivors. Lung cancer survivors in Southern Alberta completed a mailed survey that assessed measures of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9; Patient Health Questionnaire-9: range = 0-27), anxiety (State Anxiety Inventory: range = 10-40), satisfaction with life (SWL; Satisfaction With Life Scale: range = 5-35), and posttraumatic growth (PTG; Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: range = 0-105). Participants also wore an Actigraph® GT3X + accelerometer for seven days. Quantile regression was used to examine associations of depression, anxiety, SWL, and PTG with light intensity physical activity, MVPA, and sedentary time. A total of 127 lung cancer survivors participated for a 24% response rate. Total sedentary time min/day was associated with depressive symptoms at the 50th percentile (β = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.0–0.03), SWL at the 25th percentile (β = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07-0.0) and 50th percentile (β = -0.03, 95% CI: -0.05 to -0.01). Total light-intensity physical activity mins/day was associated with SWL at the 25th (β = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.00–0.07) and 50th (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.0–0.05) percentiles, and depressive symptoms at the 50th percentile (β = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.03-0.00). Total MVPA min/day was not associated with any psychosocial health outcomes. Sedentary time and light intensity physical activity were significantly associated with some psychosocial health outcomes. Reducing sedentary time and increasing light intensity physical activity may be a more appropriate recommendation for many lung cancer survivors given their older age, poorer functional status, and reduced pulmonary capacity.