Relationship between body image and health-related quality of life in Chinese cancer survivors during the transitional cancer survivorship

Abstract

Background: Previous research has documented the negative impact of cancer treatment on body image and health-related quality of life among survivors, and the positive relationship between those factors. However, existing evidence is mainly based on Western studies of female survivors, and there is thus a huge knowledge gap in research on non-Western cancer survivors.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess body image and health-related quality of life, and explore their relationship, among Chinese cancer survivors during transitional survivorship.

Methods: Chinese cancer survivors with various diagnoses at the oncology outpatient clinic of a regional hospital in Hong Kong were invited to complete a self-reported survey on socio-demographic and clinical data, the instrument of Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors and Body Image Scale.

Results: A convenience sample of 402 Chinese cancer survivors was recruited, with a mean age of 54.4 years, the majority female (70.4%). In general, participants reported satisfactory body image but only fair health-related quality of life. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that body image was independently associated with both generic and cancer-specific health-related quality of life after controlling for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics (B = 9.572, P < 0.001; B = 5.165, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Addressing body image may be an effective approach to enhancing Chinese cancer survivors' health-related quality of life during their transitional survivorship. Since there is a lack of attention given to body image in local clinical settings, early assessment and appropriate interventions should be considered.

Keywords: Chinese; body image; cancer survivor; health-related quality of life; transitional cancer survivorship.