Body Image Concerns in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Patients within Six Months of Upfront Diagnosis
Body Image Concerns in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Patients within Six Months of Upfront Diagnosis

Body Image Concerns in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Patients within Six Months of Upfront Diagnosis

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2024 May 29. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2024.0024. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study described prevalent body image (BI) concerns among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with neoplasms who received treatment at a quaternary care children’s hospital. Thirty-two AYAs, aged 15-39 years, completed questionnaires assessing BI within six months of diagnosis. The most frequently endorsed questionnaire items included the following: desire for increased physical fitness (62.5%), self-consciousness about hair (45.2%), weight dissatisfaction (40.6%), lack of strength (37.5%), wearing loose clothing to hide one’s body (37.5%), decreased agility (34.4%), shape dissatisfaction (32.2%), and self-perception of too much body fat (31.3%). Awareness of AYA BI concerns during treatment may generate early intervention targeting this complex issue.

PMID:38808497 | DOI:10.1089/jayao.2024.0024