Correlation between positive degree and psychological distress in patients with interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND Extant studies have explored the independent influencing factors of positivity or psychological distress in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD); however, few studies have hitherto systematically analyzed the correlation between positivity or psychological distress in these patients. AIM To explore the correlation between disease management positivity and psychological distress in patients with ILD. METHODS Convenience sampling was used to select 370 patients with ILD treated in The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou (The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University) from July 2023 to January 2025. We obtained data via a general information questionnaire, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to assess the correlation between positivity and psychological distress. Multiple linear regression analyzed the factors that affected psychological distress. A restricted cubic spline model examined the dose-response relationship between the PAM and K10 scores. RESULTS The total PAM and K10 scores were 50.51 ± 5.48 and 32.62 ± 5.60, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the K10 scores among patients based on education level, dyspnea level, and the Perceived Social Support Scale score (P < 0.05). Psychological distress was negatively correlated with cognition, action, belief, skill, and the PAM score (all P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified education level, dyspnea, Perceived Social Support Scale score, and PAM score as the main factors that influenced psychological distress (P < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline curve fitting indicated a negative linear relationship between the PAM and K10 scores, adjusted for covariates (P for overall < 0.001, P for non-linear = 0.188). CONCLUSION Positivity is negatively correlated with psychological distress in patients with ILD. Clinically, attention should be paid to patients’ psychological state to enhance their positivity.