Characteristics of body image and their relationship with perceived stress, self-compassion and implicit attitudes in female breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective To explore body image characteristics and their relationship with perceived stress, self-compassion, and implicit attitudes among Chinese women with breast cancer. Methods Body image scale (BIS), Chinese perceived stress scale (CPSS), and self-compassion scale-short form (SCS-SF) were employed to evaluate 343 breast cancer patients recruited from a tertiary hospital. Implicit association test (IAT) was conducted on 68 patients, and 65 valid results were obtained. Based on BIS score of 10 as a cutoff value, the patients were divided into BIS score < 10 and ≥10 groups. Results Among the 343 breast cancer patients, 161 had a BIS score ≥10, and the detection rate of body image dysregulation was 47%. The patients at an age of ≤40 years had higher negative body image scores than those at 40~50 years and those at ≥50 years, and those of jobless had higher negative scores than those employed and those retired. Body image was positively correlated with perceived stress (r=0.49, P < 0.01) and negatively with self-compassion (r=-0.49, P < 0.01) and implicit attitudes (r=-0.26, P < 0.05) in these patients. The patients from the BIS score < 10 group had obviously higher IAT D-score than those of the BIS score < 10 group. Conclusion The detection rate of body image dysregulation is quite high in women with breast cancer detection rate of body image dysregulation. Body image is closely associated with perceived stress, self-compassion, implicit attitudes, age, and employment status, which provides the basis for the scientific development of clinical interventions to improve body image in the patients.

Keywords

• body image
• perceived stress
• self-compassion
• implicit attitudes
• breast cancer