ORIGINAL PAPER
Characteristics of psychological resilience and body image in women in the early and late periods after mastectomy
 
More details
Hide details
 
Submission date: 2018-05-22
 
 
Final revision date: 2018-09-28
 
 
Acceptance date: 2018-09-29
 
 
Online publication date: 2018-11-27
 
 
Publication date: 2018-11-27
 
 
Health Psychology Report 2019;7(1):32-47
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
European statistics confirm a rise in breast cancer among women. Those suffering from breast cancer and undergoing mastectomy are undoubtedly experiencing a range of negative and/or positive emotions, thoughts and behaviours that depend on many factors such as psychological resilience. The study reported here aimed to identify factors that protect body image resilience in women suffering from breast cancer after mastectomy.

Participants and procedure:
The research group comprised 120 women after either a short (up to 2 years) or a long (over 2 years) time since mastectomy. Three scales were applied, namely the Resilience Measurement Scale (SPP-25) developed by Juczyński and Ogińska-Bulik to measure the variability of psychological resilience, the Body Attitude Test (BAT) developed by Probst, and others (Polish version by Brytek-Matera), and Probst’s Body Self Questionnaire developed by Mirucka for the measurement of the body image.

Results:
Post-mastectomy patients proved to have a significantly poorer self-assessment of the body, more restrictive eating behaviours and weight control employed with the aim to improve their appearance. Women just after mastectomy, seemed more focused on mobilising their resources necessary to adapt to new conditions and to restore balance after the difficult experience compared to women who had undergone mastectomy over 2 years before the study. The former are characterised by a higher degree of psychological resilience, higher perseverance and determination in action. They also better cope with experienced failure and negative emotions, which indicates that they have a greater capacity to detach from difficult situations.

Conclusions:
The greater mobilisation of resources necessary to adapt to new conditions and to restore balance after a difficult experience require consideration and application of psychological support from the very beginning of treatment. For this reason, psychological counselling and work on strengthening resilience among women after mastectomy are indicated.

 
REFERENCES (59)
1.
Borucka, A. (2011). Koncepcja resilience. Podstawowe założenia i nurty badań [The concept of res ilience: basic assumptions and research trends]. In W. Ju­nik (Ed.), Resilience – teoria, badania, praktyka (pp. 11–28). Warszawa: PARPAMEDIA.
 
2.
Brytek-Matera, A., & Probst, M. (2014). Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Body Attitude Test. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 1, 39–46.
 
3.
Choate, L. H. (2005). Toward a theoretical model of women’s body image resilience. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83, 320–330.
 
4.
Connor, K. M. (2006). Assessment of resilience in the aftermath of trauma. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67, 46–49.
 
5.
Cordova, M. J., Cunningham, L. L., Carlson, C. R., & Andrykowski, M. A. (2001). Posttraumatic growth following breast cancer: a controlled comparison study. Health Psychology, 20, 176–185.
 
6.
Cordova, M. J., Studts, J. L., Hann, D. M., Jacobsen, P. B., & Andrykowski, M. (2000). Symptom structure of PTSD following breast cancer. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 13, 301–319.
 
7.
Dunn, L. B., Cooper, B. A., Neuhaus, J., West, C., Paul, S., Aouizerat, B., Abrams, G., Edrington, J., Hamolsky, D., & Miaskowski, C. (2011). Identification of distinct depressive symptom trajectories in women following surgery for breast cancer. Health Psychology, 30, 683–692.
 
8.
Falk Dahl, C. A., Reinertsen, K., Nesvold, I. L., Fosså, S. D., & Dahl, A. (2010). A study of body image in long-term breast cancer survivors. Cancer, 116, 3549–3557.
 
9.
Felcyn-Koczewska, M., & Ogińska-Bulik, N. (2011). Rola prężności w rozwoju potraumatycznym osób w żałobie [The role of resilience in posttraumatic growth of persons in bereavement]. In L. Golińska & E. Bielawska-Batorowicz (Eds.), Rodzina i praca w warunkach kryzysu [Family and work in crisis conditions] (pp. 511–524). Łódź: Wydawnictwo UŁ.
 
10.
Fingeret, M. C., Teo, I., & Epner, D. E. (2014). Managing body image difficulties of adult cancer patients: Lessons from available research. Cancer, 120, 633–641.
 
11.
Fobair, P., Stewart, S. L., Chang, S., D’Onofrio, C., Banks, P. J., & Bloom, J. R. (2006). Body image and sexual problems in young women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 15, 579–594.
 
12.
Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2000). Positive affect and the other side of coping. American Psychologist, 55, 647–654. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003....
 
13.
Fradelos, E. C., Papathanasiou, I. V., Veneti, A., Daglas, A., Christodoulou, E., Zyga, S., & Kourakos, M. (2017). Psychological Distress and Resilience in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Greece. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 18, 2545–2550.
 
14.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 359, 1367–1377.
 
15.
Gillman, L., Adams, J., Covac, R., Kilcullen, A., House, A., & Doyle C. (2015). Strategies to promote coping and resilience in oncology and palliative care nurses caring for adult patients with malignancy: a comprehensive systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 13, 131–204. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1898.
 
16.
Głębocka, A. (2009). Niezadowolenie z wyglądu a rozpaczliwa kontrola wagi [Dissatisfaction with appearance and desperate weight control]. Kraków: Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.
 
17.
Herschbach, P., Keller, M., Knight, L., Brandl, T., Huber, B., Henrich, G., & Marten-Mittag, B. (2004). Psychological problems of cancer patients: cancer distress screening with a cancer-specific questionnaire. British Journal of Cancer, 91, 504–511.
 
18.
Heszen, I., & Sęk, H. (2007). Psychologia zdrowia [Health psychology]. Warszawa: PWN.
 
19.
Ishibashi, A., & Ueda, R. (2003). Resilience in adolescents with cancer. Japanese Journal of Health and Human Ecology, 69, 220-232.
 
20.
Janssens, J. P., & Vandeloo, M. (2009). Breast cancer: Direct and indirect risk factors related to age and lifestyle. Nowotwory, 59, 159–167.
 
21.
Kozela, M., Stepaniak, U., & Pająk, A. (2011). Membership in breast cancer peer-support organization (Amazons Club) and depression. Contemporary Oncology, 15, 55–58.
 
22.
Krok, D., & Kubiec, W. (2013). Dobrostan psychiczny i wizerunek ciała u kobiet po mastektomii i ich córek [Mental well-being and body image in post-mastectomy women and their daughters]. In D. Krok & A. Bronowicka (Eds.), Jednostka i religia w relacjach społecznych [Individual and religion in social relations] (pp. 139–166). Opole: University of Opole.
 
23.
Leksowska, A., Jaworska, I., & Gorczyca, P. (2011). Choroba somatyczna jako wyzwanie adaptacyjne dla człowieka [Somatic disease as an adaptive, human challenge]. Folia Cardiologica Excerpta, 6, 244–248.
 
24.
Levine, E. G., Eckhardt, J., & Targ, E. (2005). Change in post-traumatic stress symptoms following psychosocial treatment for breast cancer. PsychoOncology, 14, 618–635.
 
25.
Luthar, S. S. (2006). Resilience in development: A synthesis of research across five decades. In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology: Risk, disorder, and adaptation (Vol. 2, pp. 739–795). Hoboken, NY: John Wiley.
 
26.
Manne, S., Ostroff, J., Winkel, G., Goldstein, L., Fox, K., & Grana, G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth after breast cancer: Patient, partner, and couple perspectives. Psychosomatic Medicine, 66, 442–454.
 
27.
McGrath, R. J., Wiggin, J., & Caron R. M. (2009). The relationship between resilience and body image in college women. The Internet Journal of Health, 10. Retrieved from http://scholars.unh.edu/hmp_fa....
 
28.
Meder, J. (2014). Rak głównym zabójcą ludzi w XXI wieku. Narodowy Program Zwalczania Chorób Nowotworowych [Cancer as the leading killer of people in the 21st century: The National Programme for Combating Cancer]. In A. Potrykowska, Z. Strzelecki, J. Szymborski, & J. Witkowski (Eds.), Zachorowalność i umieralność na nowotwory a sytuacja demograficzna Polski [Cancer morbidity and mortality and the demographic situation in Poland] (pp. 50–85). Warszawa: Rządowa Rada Ludnościowa.
 
29.
Mirucka, B. (2005). Kwestionariusz Ja Cielesnego [Body Self Questionnaire]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 48, 313–329.
 
30.
Mirucka, B., & Sakson-Obada O. (2013). Ja cielesne: od normy do zaburzeń [Body self: from sound health to disorders]. Sopot: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
 
31.
Mroczek, B., Kurpas, D., Grochans, E., Kuszmar, G., Rotter, I., Żułtak-Bączkowska K., & Karakiewicz, B. (2012). Psychosexual functioning of women after breast cancer therapy. Psychiatria Polska, 46, 51–56.
 
32.
Nadolska, K., & Sęk, H. (2007). Społeczny kontekst odkrywania wiedzy o zasobach odpornościowych, czyli czym jest resilience i jak ono funkcjonuje. [The social context of discovering knowledge about immune resources – what resilience is and how it works] In: Ł. Kaczmarek, A. Słysz (Eds.). Bliżej serca – zdrowie i emocje [Closer heart- health and emotions] (pp. 13 -37). Poznań: Wyd. UAM.
 
33.
Ogińska-Bulik, N. (2013). The role of social support in posttraumatic growth in people struggling with cancer. Health Psychology Report, 1, 1–8. doi: https://doi.org/10.5114/hpr.20....
 
34.
Ogińska-Bulik, N. (2011). The role of women’s psychological resilience in adapting to cancer. Psychoonkologia, 1, 16–24.
 
35.
Ogińska-Bulik, N. (2010). Post-traumatic growth in cancer: the role of resilience. Polskie Forum Psychologiczne, 15, 125–139.
 
36.
Ogińska-Bulik, N., & Juczyński, Z. (2008). Skala Pomiaru Prężności – SPP-25 [Resilience Measurement Scale – SPP-25]. Nowiny Psychologiczne, 3, 39–56.
 
37.
Okła, W., Steuden, S., & Puzon, P. (2006). Ocena jakości własnego życia u kobiet po mastektomii [Life quality self-assessment in post-mastectomy women]. In W. Okła & S. Steuden (Eds.), Jakość życia w chorobie [Quality of life in illness] (pp. 33–48). Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.
 
38.
Ong, A. D., Zautra, A. J., & Reid, M. C. (2010). Psychological resilience predicts decreases in pain catastrophizing through positive emotions. Psychol Aging, 25, 516–523. doi: 10.1037/a0019384.
 
39.
Ostrowski, T. M. (2014). Resilience in the light of research and theoretical reflection. In T. M. Ostrowski & I. Sikorska (Eds.), Health and resilience (pp. 13–23). Kraków: Jagiellonian University.
 
40.
Pikler, V., & Winterowd, C. (2003). Racial and body image differences in coping for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Health Psychology, 22, 632–637.
 
41.
Sakson-Obada, O. (2009a). Pamięć ciała. Ja cielesne w relacji przywiązania i w traumie [Memory of the body. Body self in attachment and trauma]. Warszawa: Difin.
 
42.
Sakson-Obada, O. (2009b). Trauma jako czynnik ryzyka dla zaburzeń Ja cielesnego [Trauma as a risk factor for body-self disorders]. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 52, 309–326.
 
43.
Semmer, N. K. (2006). Personality, stress and coping. In M. E. Vollrath (Ed.), Handbook of personality and health (pp. 73–113). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
 
44.
Sęk, H., & Cieślak, R. (2004). Wsparcie społeczne, stres i zdrowie [Social suport, stress and health]. Warszawa: PWN.
 
45.
Sheppard, L. A., & Ely, S. (2008). Breast cancer and sexuality. The Breast Journal, 14, 176–181. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4741.2007.00550.x.
 
46.
Stanton, A. L., Danoff-Burg, S., & Huggins, M. E. (2002). The first year after breast cancer diagnosis: Hope and coping strategies as predictors of adjustment. Psycho-Oncology, 11, 93–102.
 
47.
Tarnopolska, M. (2007). Wizerunek ciała i jakość życia u kobiet po mastektomii. [Body image and quality of life in women after mastectomy]. Opole: Unpublished master’s thesis.
 
48.
Tedeschi, R. G., Park, C. L., & Calhoun, L. G. (1998). Posttraumatic growth: Positive changes in the aftermath of crisis. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
 
49.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2006). Expert companions: Posttraumatic growth in clinical practice. In L. G. Calhoun & R. G. Tedeschi (Eds.), Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice (pp. 291–310). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
 
50.
Tugade, M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from negative emotional experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86, 320–333.
 
51.
Tugade, M. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2007). Regulation of positive emotions: Emotion regulation strategies that promote resilience. Journal of Happiness Studies, 8, 311–333.
 
52.
Tykkä, E., Asko-Seljavaara, S., & Hietanen, H. (2002). Patient satisfaction with delayed breast reconstruction: a prospective study. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 49, 258–263.
 
53.
Vishnevsky, T., Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R. G., & Demakis, G. J. (2010). Gender differences in self-reported posttraumatic growth: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34, 110–120.
 
54.
Walden-Gałuszko de, K., Majkowicz, M., Trojanowski, L., & Trzebiatowska, I. (1994). Jakość życia u kobiet z nowotworem gruczołu piersiowego [Quality of life in women with breast cancer]. In K. de Walden-Gałuszko & M. Majkowicz (Eds.), Jakość życia w chorobie nowotworowej (pp. 105–112). Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.
 
55.
Wallace, M. L., Harcourt, D., Rumsey, N., & Foot, A. (2007). Managing appearance changes resulting from cancer treatment: resilience in adolescent females. Psycho-Oncology, 16, 1019–1027.
 
56.
Waugh, C. E., Thompson, R. J., & Gotlib, I. H. (2011). Flexible emotional responsiveness in trait resilience. Emotion, 11, 1059–1067. doi: 10.1037/a0021786.
 
57.
Widera, A., Juczyński, Z., & Popiela, T. (2003). Psychological determinants of post-traumatic stress in oncological patients after scarring surgeries. Psychoonkologia, 7, 31–36.
 
58.
Życińska, J. (2005). Znaczenie poczucia własnej skuteczności w kształtowaniu obrazu siebie i jakości związku małżeńskiego przez kobiety po mastektomii [The importance of self-efficacy among women after mastectomy in creating their self-concept and for their marital quality]. In D. Kubacka-Jasiecka & T. M. Ostrowski (Eds.), Psychologiczny wymiar zdrowia, kryzysu i choroby [Psychological aspects of health, crisis and illness] (pp. 221–239). Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
 
59.
Zemore, R., & Shepel, L. F. (1989). Effects of breast cancer and mastectomy on emotional support and adjustment. Social Science & Medicine, 28, 19–27.
 
Copyright: © Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk This is an Open Access journal, all articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
eISSN:2353-5571
ISSN:2353-4184
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top