Abstract
Objective: Women with breast cancer face threats to body image following surgery. Nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (NSM + IBR) may minimise body image disturbance as this preserves the woman's skin and areola complex. We assessed levels of body image disturbance and psychological distress in women undergoing NSM + IBR. To further understand the body image–distress relationship, we investigated the potential moderating effect of self-compassion and appearance investment on this relationship. Methods: Women diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 75) who had undergone NSM + IBR completed online questionnaires including the Body Image Scale, general (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales) and cancer-specific (Impact of Event Scale) psychological distress and Self-Compassion Scale and Appearance Schemas Inventory – Revised. Results: Mean general and cancer-specific psychological distress scores were within normal ranges, and body image disturbance was moderately low. Body image was positively correlated with depression, stress, Impact of Event Scale scores and appearance investment and negatively correlated with self-compassion. MANCOVA analyses indicated a significant moderating effect of self-compassion and appearance investment on the body image disturbance–distress relationship (for depression, stress and intrusion), such that participants with high self-compassion and low appearance investment experienced lower distress than individuals with low self-compassion and high appearance investment. Conclusions: Moderately low levels of psychological distress and body image disturbance suggest NSM + IBR may minimise adverse psychological impacts of mastectomy. Increased body image disturbance was associated with psychological distress and moderated by self-compassion and appearance investment, suggesting a potential role for these characteristics as the focus of psychological interventions to minimise the negative impacts of mastectomy.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 337-345 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Psycho-Oncology |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2017 |
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Keywords
- body image
- cancer
- nipple-sparing mastectomy
- oncology
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Body image and psychological distress in nipple-sparing mastectomy : the roles of self-compassion and appearance investment. / Sherman, K. A.; Woon, S.; French, J.; Elder, E.
In: Psycho-Oncology, Vol. 26, No. 3, 01.03.2017, p. 337-345.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Body image and psychological distress in nipple-sparing mastectomy
T2 - Psycho‐Oncology
AU - Sherman, K. A.
AU - Woon, S.
AU - French, J.
AU - Elder, E.
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - Objective: Women with breast cancer face threats to body image following surgery. Nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (NSM + IBR) may minimise body image disturbance as this preserves the woman's skin and areola complex. We assessed levels of body image disturbance and psychological distress in women undergoing NSM + IBR. To further understand the body image–distress relationship, we investigated the potential moderating effect of self-compassion and appearance investment on this relationship. Methods: Women diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 75) who had undergone NSM + IBR completed online questionnaires including the Body Image Scale, general (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales) and cancer-specific (Impact of Event Scale) psychological distress and Self-Compassion Scale and Appearance Schemas Inventory – Revised. Results: Mean general and cancer-specific psychological distress scores were within normal ranges, and body image disturbance was moderately low. Body image was positively correlated with depression, stress, Impact of Event Scale scores and appearance investment and negatively correlated with self-compassion. MANCOVA analyses indicated a significant moderating effect of self-compassion and appearance investment on the body image disturbance–distress relationship (for depression, stress and intrusion), such that participants with high self-compassion and low appearance investment experienced lower distress than individuals with low self-compassion and high appearance investment. Conclusions: Moderately low levels of psychological distress and body image disturbance suggest NSM + IBR may minimise adverse psychological impacts of mastectomy. Increased body image disturbance was associated with psychological distress and moderated by self-compassion and appearance investment, suggesting a potential role for these characteristics as the focus of psychological interventions to minimise the negative impacts of mastectomy.
AB - Objective: Women with breast cancer face threats to body image following surgery. Nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (NSM + IBR) may minimise body image disturbance as this preserves the woman's skin and areola complex. We assessed levels of body image disturbance and psychological distress in women undergoing NSM + IBR. To further understand the body image–distress relationship, we investigated the potential moderating effect of self-compassion and appearance investment on this relationship. Methods: Women diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 75) who had undergone NSM + IBR completed online questionnaires including the Body Image Scale, general (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales) and cancer-specific (Impact of Event Scale) psychological distress and Self-Compassion Scale and Appearance Schemas Inventory – Revised. Results: Mean general and cancer-specific psychological distress scores were within normal ranges, and body image disturbance was moderately low. Body image was positively correlated with depression, stress, Impact of Event Scale scores and appearance investment and negatively correlated with self-compassion. MANCOVA analyses indicated a significant moderating effect of self-compassion and appearance investment on the body image disturbance–distress relationship (for depression, stress and intrusion), such that participants with high self-compassion and low appearance investment experienced lower distress than individuals with low self-compassion and high appearance investment. Conclusions: Moderately low levels of psychological distress and body image disturbance suggest NSM + IBR may minimise adverse psychological impacts of mastectomy. Increased body image disturbance was associated with psychological distress and moderated by self-compassion and appearance investment, suggesting a potential role for these characteristics as the focus of psychological interventions to minimise the negative impacts of mastectomy.
KW - body image
KW - cancer
KW - nipple-sparing mastectomy
KW - oncology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84971310813&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/pon.4138
DO - 10.1002/pon.4138
M3 - Article
VL - 26
SP - 337
EP - 345
JO - Psycho‐Oncology
JF - Psycho‐Oncology
SN - 1057-9249
IS - 3
ER -