Body image and hopelessness among early-stage breast cancer survivors after surgery in China: A cross-sectional study

Aim: To examine the body image and hopelessness status of early-stage breast cancer survivors who received a one-time dressing change after surgery and were ready to be discharged from a hospital in China.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Participants were 211 women with breast cancer who had received a one-time dressing change postsurgery. Spearman's correlation and structural equation modelling were used for data analysis.

Results: Participants in the 35-45 age group and those who underwent bilateral mastectomy presented higher scores for hopelessness. Married participants showed lower scores for the feelings about the future subscale compared to other subscales. Body image was significantly and positively associated with and had a positive effect on hopelessness. Women with a more positive appraisal of their body image tended to report lower levels of hopelessness. Healthcare providers should evaluate patients' distress levels after a mastectomy to identify women who may require early psychosocial intervention.