Psychosocial Needs and Experiences of Caribbean Men With Prostate Cancer: A Narrative Review of the Literature
Jonathan Gelfand, Madeline Laurendine, Nicholas Caravello, Lisa Wong, Shahad Khan, Keyonna Smith, Anique AtherleyPURPOSE
Prostate cancer disproportionately affects men of African descent, with Caribbean men experiencing an especially high burden of incidence, late-stage presentation, and mortality. Biomedical disparities in prostate cancer outcomes are well-documented. However, the psychosocial dimensions of prostate cancer among Caribbean men remain comparatively underexplored. The authors aimed to synthesize the literature on the psychosocial experiences of Caribbean men with prostate cancer and their caregivers.
METHODS
The authors conducted a narrative review informed by a structured literature search of peer-reviewed publications examining the psychosocial needs and experiences of Caribbean men with prostate cancer and their caregivers. PubMed and Scopus were searched using predefined terms. Studies were included if they were empirical, published in English between 2010-2025, and explored psychosocial dimensions of prostate cancer affecting Caribbean men or their caregivers. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened for relevance, and six studies met inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and subjected to thematic synthesis to identify recurring psychosocial and sociocultural patterns across the literature.
RESULTS
Psychological experiences were shaped by intersecting constructions of masculinity, cultural stigma, relational dynamics and healthcare inequities. Five cross-cutting themes characterized the literature. First, masculinity functioned as a barrier to care, reflected in avoidance of digital rectal examination, fear of erectile dysfunction, and the perceived threat of screening to male identity. Second, this expressed masculinity contributed to emotional silence and isolation, with men demonstrating reluctance to seek psychological support. Third, caregiver invisibility was evident as partners were excluded from decision-making and their own emotional needs remained unmet. Fourth, these patterns were reinforced by structural and cultural barriers, including healthcare mistrust, delayed presentation, and the limited availability of culturally tailored interventions. Finally, men and families relied on informal coping systems, particularly faith communities and peer networks to navigate gaps in formal care.
Conclusion
Psychosocial experiences of Caribbean men with prostate cancer are not isolated emotional reactions to illness but are shaped by deeply rooted cultural norms, gender expectations, and structural features of regional healthcare systems. There is an urgent need for population-specific psychosocial oncology research and for culturally tailored interventions that address both patient and caregiver experiences within culturally relevant models of care.