Manifestations of Body Image Distress in AYA Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Analysis of Participants in an Expressive Writing Intervention.

BACKGROUND

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.

AIMS: Explore the manifestations of body image distress in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who participated in a body image-focused expressive writing intervention.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.