Body image in men with prostate or laryngeal cancer and their female partners

Abstract

Objectives: The study examines body image of male cancer patients and their female partners as well as factors influencing body image. Methods: N = 73 heterosexual couples in which the male partner was diagnosed with prostate (PC; n = 52) or laryngeal cancer (LC; n = 21) completed questionnaires on body image acceptance (Self Image Scale), relationship satisfaction (Quality of Marriage Questionnaire), and cancer-related distress (Questionnaire on Stress in Cancer Patients). The body image was assessed from two perspectives: Self-acceptance (which measures a person's satisfaction or acceptance of the body) and partner-acceptance (which assesses a person's perception of the partners' appraisals of the body). Results: No differences occurred in body image acceptance between men with PC or LC. Patients with PC rated the perceived partner-acceptance lower than did their female partners. In couples with LC, women rated the self-acceptance of their partners higher than did the patients themselves. Multiple regression analysis revealed that for survivors of PC, cancer-related distress, relationship satisfaction and partner-acceptance emerged as significant predictors of self-acceptance. The only significant predictor of partner-acceptance was men's self-acceptance. Conclusions: The dissatisfaction with physical appearance is found in PK and LK patients and seems to persist for a long time. Impairment of patients' body image should be identified and addressed to prevent the negative effects on psychosocial stress for patients and relationship satisfaction.