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The relationship between body image, age, and distress in women facing breast cancer surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2013

Sarah J. Miller ,
Julie B. Schnur ,
Sarah L. Weinberger-Litman  and
Guy H. Montgomery
Sarah J. Miller*
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Oncological Sciences, New York, New York
Julie B. Schnur
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Oncological Sciences, New York, New York
Sarah L. Weinberger-Litman
Affiliation:
Marymount Manhattan College, Department of Psychology, New York, New York
Guy H. Montgomery
Affiliation:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Oncological Sciences, New York, New York
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Sarah Miller, Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1130, New York, NY 10029-6574. Phone: 1.212-659-5531; Fax: 1.212-849-2566; E-mail: Sarah.Miller@mssm.edu
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Abstract

Objectives:

Research suggests that the strength of the relationship between body image and emotional distress decreases with age. Past research has focused on expected aging-related body changes, and has not yet examined unexpected body changes (e.g., breast cancer surgery). The present post-hoc study assessed relationships between age, body image, and emotional distress in women facing breast cancer surgery.

Methods:

Older (≥65 years, n = 40) and younger (<65 years, n = 40) women were matched on race/ethnicity, marital status, and surgery type. Within one week prior to surgery, participants completed measures of demographics, aspects of body image, and emotional distress (general and surgery-specific).

Results:

Results indicated that: (1) body image did not differ by age (p > 0.999); (2) older women reported less pre-surgical emotional distress than younger women (p's < 0.01); and, (3) age moderated the relationship between body image and emotional distress (p's < 0.06).

Significance of results:

The results suggest that younger women, particularly those with poor body image, are at an increased risk for pre-surgical emotional distress. These women may benefit from pre-surgical interventions designed to improve body image or to reduce pre-surgical emotional distress.

Keywords

Breast cancerSurgeryBody imageEmotional distress
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 363 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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