Mediating effects of psychological resilience on the relationship between social support and body image dissatisfaction among patients with primary brain tumors in China

Several studies have documented that patients with different types of tumors experience serious body image dissatisfaction (BID). However, few studies have explored BID in patients with brain tumors. This study examined the level of BID and verified the mediating effects of psychological resilience on the relationship between social support and BID among Chinese patients with primary brain tumors. Participants included 226 Chinese patients with primary brain tumor (64.2% women) between 18 and 80 years of age (mean age = 48.36 ± 12.44), who completed the measures of a demographic questionnaire, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MPSSS), Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14), and Body Image Scale (BIS). The average BIS score among Chinese patients with primary brain tumors was 6.20 (SD = 4.85; range, 0-24), and 200 (88.5%) participants experienced body image dissatisfaction (BIS score ≥ 1), and 50 (22.1%) were significant body image dissatisfaction (BIS score ≥ 10). Spearman's rank-order correlation indicated that BID, psychological resilience, and social support were significantly correlated. Mediation analysis indicated that the direct paths from social support to psychological resilience and psychological resilience to BID were both significant, but the path from social support to BID was not, psychological resilience played a complete mediating role between social support and BID. The current results support that Chinese patients with brain tumors experience BID, and more awareness and interventions should be given from healthcare professionals. These findings have implications for developing and implementing intervention programs to enhance social support and psychological resilience among this population and cope with BID.