A thematic study of the role of social support in the body image of burn survivors

Abstract

There is evidence that social support is important for the development and maintenance of body image satisfaction for people who have sustained burn injuries. This qualitative study explored the specific mechanisms by which social support impacts the body image satisfaction of burn survivors, drawing on nine participants’ in depth accounts. Participants were recruited through a burns unit at a public hospital in South Australia. Interviews were conducted with nine female burn survivors aged between 24 and 65 (mean age 44.6). Participants described their perceptions about their appearance post burn and their social support experiences. Four themes were identified: acceptance, social comparison, talking about appearance concerns, and the gaze of others. Results indicate that for these participants, social support was an important factor in coming to terms with changes in appearance, specifically support that helps to minimise feelings of difference. Unhelpful aspects of social support were also identified included feeling that suffering was being dismissed and resenting the perceived expectation from supports to be positive. Social supports are important to consider in relation to body image for those working with people who have survived burn injuries.

Investigation of the relationship between perceived social support and body image in women with breast cancer

“…The present study showed that perceived social support by friends was directly and positively related to body image in both mastectomy and tumor resection with breast preservation groups. In line with the results of the present study, Hodder et al showed that those with high social support were less focused on burns and their effects and felt more comfortable, and those who received social support from friends continued to play a role in society and had high self-confidence [27]. Merianos et al 's study showed that perceived social support by friends has a significant and positive correlation with students' body image [28].…”

“…Those with low social support felt more inferior and suffer. The results of another study indicate the positive effect of family social support on increasing body satisfaction [27].…”

“…In this regard, Hodder showed that social support is the most critical factor in coping with body disfiguration and plays a key role in minimizing the feeling of physical differences. Thus, it is essential to understand the relationship between social support and body image [27].…”

Risk factors for peri-traumatic distress and appearance concerns in burn-injured inpatients identified by a screening tool

“…As a result, the tool was designed to focus on social support, coping strategies, appearance concerns, traumatic stress symptoms and prior psychopathology. 7,[28][29][30][31][32][33] During a trial period, the questionnaire was revised and items were removed based on patient feedback and the balance between quality of the information generated, patient burden and clinician time. Only items with face validity were retained in the final questionnaire.…”

“Determinants of Body Image Dissatisfaction among an LGBTQ community in Lebanon”. (c2021)

“…Pawijit et al, (2017) explained the mediating paths between social anxiety and BID by which the individual's self-focused thinking can contribute to fear of negative evaluation which by itself can lead to BID. While protective factors against BID remain blurred, social support has been one of the factors negatively associated with BID and related mental issues (Ehlke et al, 2020;Hodder et al, 2014). According to Meyer (2003) theory, the impact of minority stress on mental health can be diluted through social support.…”