Artikel: Factors associated with psychological distress in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema (2016)
Door Charlotte Spaas op Woe, 03/08/2016 - 16:26
Previous research has shown that lymphoedema impacts negatively on an individual,
including psychological distress and body image disturbance, particularly for younger women. This
study identified psychological factors associated with distress in women with breast cancer-related
lymphoedema and determined whether age moderated the specific relationship between body image
disturbance and distress.
Methods
Australian women (n = 166) diagnosed with breast cancer-related lymphoedema were
recruited through a community-based breast cancer organisation and lymphoedema treatment clinics.
Participants completed an online survey assessing lymphoedema-related cognitions (personal control,
perceived treatment effectiveness, and consequences of lymphoedema), perceived ability to self-
regulate lymphoedema-related negative affect, body image disturbance, psychological distress
(depression, anxiety and stress), and demographic/medical information.
Results
Beliefs about the consequences, perceived effectiveness of treatment and controllability of
lymphoedema, perceived ability to self-regulate negative affect, body image disturbance, and number
of lymphoedema symptoms were correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Multivariate
regression analyses indicated that body image disturbance was significantly associated with depres-
sion, anxiety, and stress, and perceived treatment effectiveness was associated with stress. Age was a
significant moderator of the relationship between body image disturbance and depression and anx-
iety, with older women with greater body image disturbance more distressed.
Conclusions
Health professionals need to be aware that women diagnosed with lymphoedema are
at risk of experiencing psychological distress, particularly arising from body image disturbance and
beliefs that treatment cannot control lymphoedema. Furthermore, older women may be at an
increased risk of anxiety and depression arising from body image disturbance.
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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