Impact of Body Image Perception on Behavioral Outcomes in Chinese Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Sarcoma

• Published in: Cancer medicine (Malden, MA) MA), 2024-12, Vol.13 (23), p.e70320-n/a
• Main Authors: Wei, Yihui, Ma, Chung Tin, Li, Michael Can Heng, Zhou, Keary Rui, Loong, Herbert Ho Fung, Wong, Kwok Chuen, Li, Chi Kong, Cheung, Yin Ting
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; adolescents and young adults; Adult; behavioral outcomes; Body Dissatisfaction - psychology; Body image; Body Image - psychology; body image dissatisfaction; Body mass index; Bone cancer; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Cancer therapies; China - epidemiology; Chronic illnesses; Deformities; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; East Asian People; Families & family life; Female; Humans; Male; Medical diagnosis; Mental depression; Osteosarcoma; Patients; Peers; Perception; Perceptions; Personality; Qualitative research; Quality of Life; Radiation; Risk Factors; Sarcoma; Sarcoma - psychology; sarcoma survivors; Self image; Surgery; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 2045-7634; 2045-7634
• DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70320

ABSTRACT Purpose To identify the prevalence and predictive factors of body image dissatisfaction among Chinese adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of sarcoma and to evaluate its associations with behavioral outcomes. Methods In total, 116 AYA survivors (response rate: 88%; 48.3% female; mean age 28.2 years, SD = 8.2 years) of osteosarcoma (49.1%) or soft‐tissue sarcoma (50.9%) were recruited from an academic hospital. The survivors self‐reported their perceived body image using the Body Image Scale. Behavioral outcomes were assessed using DSM‐oriented scales of the ASEBA Adult Self‐Report checklist. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to identify predictors of body image perception and to investigate the association between body image dissatisfaction and behavioral outcomes (adjusted for clinically relevant variables and corrected for false discovery rate). Mediation analyses were performed to examine the mediating effects of body image perception between clinical, treatment, or socioenvironmental risk factors and behavioral outcomes. Results At 15 years post‐cancer diagnosis, one‐third of the cohort (39.7%) reported dissatisfaction with their body image. The significant risk factors associated with body image dissatisfaction were being female (standardized coefficient estimate [Est] = 0.21, SE = 0.10; p = 0.047), surgery treatment (Est = 0.19, SE = 0.09; p = 0.046), and worse family functioning (Est = 0.27, SE = 0.10, p = 0.013). Body image dissatisfaction was associated with symptoms of depression (Est = 0.30, SE = 0.10; p = 0.005) and avoidant personality problems (Est = 0.37, SE = 0.11; p