Resilience as a Mediator Between Demoralization and Quality of Life in Older Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study examined the relationships among resilience, demoralization, and quality of life (QoL) in older patients with colorectal cancer and explored the mediating role of resilience. A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, including a demographic survey, the Resilience Scale, the Mandarin Version of the Demoralization Scale, and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Among 139 participants, resilience was negatively correlated with demoralization (γ = −0.728, P < .001) and positively correlated with QoL (γ = 0.714, P < .001). Demoralization was negatively correlated with QoL (γ = −0.719, P < .001). Mediation analysis confirmed that resilience significantly mediated the relationship between demoralization and QoL ( Z = −4.69, P < .001). Enhancing resilience may reduce demoralization and improve QoL in older colorectal cancer patients. Integrating resilience-building interventions into early-stage cancer care may enhance patients’ psychological well-being and overall QoL, though further studies with more representative samples are needed.