Manifestations of Body Image Distress in AYA Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Analysis of Participants in an Expressive Writing Intervention.
Body image distress is a major concern for cancer survivors and includes views on physical appearance and body functions. As body image is largely developed in adolescence and young adulthood with implications for self-identity and social relationships, it may impact adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors in distinct ways.
Explore the manifestations of body image distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who participated in a body image-focused expressive writing intervention.
Semi-structured interviews focusing on the body image experience were conducted and reviewed with a reflexive thematic analysis approach embedded within an interpretative phenomenological framework.
Qualitative analysis of 24 interviews revealed the following themes: Feasibility and Acceptability; Reconciling Intellectual and Emotional Understanding of Anticipated Body Image Changes; What We Gained and What We Lost; Body Image Distress as a Source of Guilt and Shame; We are a Community, but We Lack a Community.
Discussion of body image distress represented an example of trauma-informed care that allowed participants to build a small community within the study and regain a sense of self identity lost in the cancer experience. This approach informs suggestions for cancer survivorship care and adopting a trauma-informed care approach during clinical or research environment. Future studies will endeavor to facilitate the adaptation of expressive writing to the needs of a given cancer survivor while building a community around those who seek to further their intellectual and emotional understanding of the ramifications of body image distress with peers.
Explore the manifestations of body image distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who participated in a body image-focused expressive writing intervention.
Semi-structured interviews focusing on the body image experience were conducted and reviewed with a reflexive thematic analysis approach embedded within an interpretative phenomenological framework.
Qualitative analysis of 24 interviews revealed the following themes: Feasibility and Acceptability; Reconciling Intellectual and Emotional Understanding of Anticipated Body Image Changes; What We Gained and What We Lost; Body Image Distress as a Source of Guilt and Shame; We are a Community, but We Lack a Community.
Discussion of body image distress represented an example of trauma-informed care that allowed participants to build a small community within the study and regain a sense of self identity lost in the cancer experience. This approach informs suggestions for cancer survivorship care and adopting a trauma-informed care approach during clinical or research environment. Future studies will endeavor to facilitate the adaptation of expressive writing to the needs of a given cancer survivor while building a community around those who seek to further their intellectual and emotional understanding of the ramifications of body image distress with peers.