A Survey of the Body Image of Mastectomies Women Referring to Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein Hospitals in Tehran, Iran

Esmaili, Roghayeh, Saiidi, Jila, Majd, Hamid, Esmaieli, Mehrdad, Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine

Byline: Roghayeh. Esmaili, Jila. Saiidi, Hamid. Majd, Mehrdad. Esmaieli

Background: Breast cancer treatment may have severe effects on women body image. As a routine care, mastectomy may enhance the risks for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of social relationships among women. An awareness of body image changes following mastectomy may promote adaptation among women. Aim: The present study has sought to determine body image levels following mastectomy among females referring to clinics at Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein Hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 90 women, aged 30-50, who had undergone mastectomy in least 3 weeks before the study started participated. They had no history of any previous surgery, chronic or psychological diseases. The subjects only referred to the clinics for follow-up treatment procedures such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The study benefited from a questionnaire which was validated for content. The questionnaire reliability was qualified by Cronbach Procedure (a=0.8). The questionnaire included demographic information as well as information on surgery and body image. The data collected were analyzed by the SPSS software. Results: The study show that body image among most subjects (44.4%) 1-3 months after mastectomy was at the "medium" level showing that 43.3% of the subjects were in favorable conditions. The study also showed that body image for most subjects (40%) was at the "medium" level, the image of most subjects (51.1%) of their breasts was at: very favorable" level, the image of most subjects (31.1%) of sexual relation was at "unfavorable" level, the image of most subjects (34.4%) upon the feeling of what others thought of them was at "favorable" level, and the image of most subjects (40%) of their familial relationships was at "medium" level. Discussion and Conclusion: Generally speaking, body image among most subjects under study was at medium-favorable levels. Since the study was conducted 1-3 months following mastectomy, and as the patients were at the recovery stages, the feelings of conquest over cancer may have caused them not to worry much about the body images.

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women being the second …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: A Survey of the Body Image of Mastectomies Women Referring to Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein Hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Contributors: Esmaili, Roghayeh - Author, Saiidi, Jila - Author, Majd, Hamid - Author, Esmaieli, Mehrdad - Author. Journal title: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. Volume: 32. Issue: 1 Publication date: January-June 2010. Page number: 34. © 2008 Medknow Publications Pvt. Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2010 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.