Breast cancer survivors' body image, depression and sexual well-being.
Date Issued
2006
Date
2006
Author(s)
Jeng, Shwu-Hwa
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
Breast cancer and cancer therapies impairs a woman's body image, emotional well-being, and sexual health in a multiple of ways. This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlative study was to explore the influence of body image and depression on breast cancer survivors’ (BCS) sexual well-being. By convenient sampling design, a total of 155 BCS (> 6 months after diagnosis) were recruited from two medical center and supportive groups in northern Taiwan. The participants were assessed with a self-report questionnaire that included body image scale, CES-depression (CES-D) scale, and sexual adjustment scale.
The results indicated that BCS had mild to moderate body image concern. Breast cancer stage, subject’s education and vocational status were associated with body image. Especially for stage 0 with college graduate or more and non-homemaker had positive sense of body image. There were 25.2% women had CES-D score more than 16 and met clinical depression criteria. Depression status in BCS was related to a woman’s education and religiosity. Women with high school graduate or less and religion affiliation had higher depression. 72.3% of BCS feel that breast cancer and cancer treatments had negative effect on their sex life (mild to moderate). More than 60% women experienced low sexual desire. In order, menopausal women, ever having chemotherapy and those receiving hormone adjuvant therapy had worsen sexual adjustment. The average time to resume sexuality is 4.9 to 5.4 month. In younger (age below 40), college graduate, not having chemotherapy and non depressed BCS had short period to revert sexuality.
The participants were divided into three groups by surgical method. There were significant difference in age and menstrual status among surgical groups. Women in the reconstruction group were younger than the others. A borderline difference in body image concern was seen among three surgical groups(F=3.03, p=.05). Women in the lumpectomy group had more positive body image than those in the reconstruction group or mastectomy-alone. However, the groups didn’t differ in depression and sexual adjustment. Body image had a positive correlation with depression(r=.59), and both variables were associated with sexual adjustment. BCS who had a poor body image, more depression, would have a more poor sexual well-being.
The multiple regression model for the BCS’ sexual well-being explain 44% of the variance, and the significant predictors were emotionally separated during the course of the disease, age, body image, and menstrual status.
The findings of this study would facilitate nurse professionals to note that BCS’s sexual adjustment, factors influent on sexual well-being and promote sexual health of BCS.
Subjects
Breast cancer suurvivor
body image
depression
sexual well-being
SDGs
Type
other
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