Understanding the relationship between body image and emotional distress among men and women with cancer

TL;DR

The study explores how anxiety and gender influence body image distress related to physical appearance and body function in cancer patients.

Contribution

The study reveals gender-specific differences in body image distress linked to anxiety among cancer patients.

Findings

Women with higher anxiety showed greater distress about physical appearance compared to men.

Men with higher anxiety showed greater distress about body function compared to women.

Anxiety and gender are significant factors in body image distress among cancer patients.

Abstract

This study addresses key gaps in knowledge regarding two components of body image that impact the emotional well-being of cancer patients: physical appearance and body function. The study examines the interrelationship of anxiety and gender in endorsement of distress related to body function and physical appearance.

A retrospective study was conducted involving 1563 patients treated for cancer at City of Hope between 2009 and 2017. Patients completed a biopsychosocial problem-related distress touch-screen instrument before treatment as part of their routine clinical care. Relationships between body image constructs (physical appearance, body function), anxiety, and gender were examined using mixed models. Models controlled demographic (age, marital status, household income, education, and survey language) and clinical variables (cancer type, disease stage).

An association between anxiety and gender (p < 0.001) was found and was associated with body image distress. With higher levels of anxiety, women were significantly more distressed than men regarding physical appearance (F = 6.94, p = 0.009), while men were significantly more distressed than women regarding body function (F = 4.05, p = 0.044).

Distress regarding body image is an important factor to consider in patients with cancer. Understanding the impact of anxiety and gender upon physical appearance distress and body function distress can inform individualized medical and psychosocial care.

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