Body experience and mental representation of body image in patients with haematological malignancies and cancer as assessed with the Body Grid

Abstract

The domain of body image plays a central role in the quality of life of patients with haematological malignancies and metastasized cancer, since the disease itself as well as the enrolled therapies interfere with psychological and bodily well-being. We approached this highly subjective field by using the repertory grid technique and hypothesized that patients would display a restricted body image, focusing on functional aspects of the body. In all, 55 in-patients (27 men, 28 women, M age = 45.7 yrs, N = 46 with haematological malignancies, N = 9 with metastasized cancer), at the time of initial diagnosis, were included in the study and assessed with the Body Grid, an instrument specifically designed by us for the exploration of body image. The data were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and construct categorization. Further, 42 chronic tinnitus sufferers (20 male, 22 female, M age = 46.5 yrs) served as a comparison group. Based on the constructs elicited, six construct categories were formulated in the sense of a first attempt of a hierarchical model (emotion, control, activity, strength, function, appearance). The central constructs (373 construct pairs) were assigned to these categories by three inter-raters. The categories appeared in the following order of frequency: function (27.1%), emotion (20.4%), strength (20.1%), activity (15%), control (10.2%) and appearance (7.2%). PCA indicated that the patients mainly demonstrated a restricted view of their body. In the tinnitus group, the most frequent category proved to be activity (21.3%), closely followed by function (21.1%) and control (20.9%). The body image was also restricted (PCA). The restriction of body image, together with the specific construct choice, seen in the haematology and cancer patients reflects the existential threat of the disease and may serve as a coping strategy. The high percentage of emotional constructs may mirror the patients' need for further support. The distinct distribution of construct categories in the two different patient samples supports the applicability of the proposed preliminary model.

Imagen corporal y autoestima en mujeres masectomizadas

“…Para la elicitación de los constructos se utilizó el método diádico, que consiste en la presentación conjunta de pares de elementos para su comparación. Se presentó cada uno de los elementos referidos a una parte del cuerpo junto con el elemento "Cuerpo Real", siguiendo los trabajos previos de Weber et al (25) y Borkenhagen et al (20,21) , aunque en algunos casos, debido a las dificultades para pensar en términos corporales de las participantes, fue necesario recurrir al método monádico, en el que se pregunta por una característica que describa un único elemento. La característica que aparece en respuesta a las preguntas es el llamado polo emergente del constructo.…”

“…La técnica de la rejilla se ha aplicado en diversos ámbitos relativos a la salud (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) . Concretamente, la técnica de la rejilla corporal se ha mostrado útil en el estudio de la imagen corporal en pacientes con trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (18)(19)(20)(21)(22) , en mujeres embarazadas y sometidas a programas de fecundación in vitro (21,23,24) , así como en enfermedades hematológicas y cáncer (25)(26)(27) , ya que permite elicitar la estructura de la imagen corporal y determinar la aceptación del cuerpo y la integración de sus partes (21,28,29) . La técnica de la rejilla se ha mostrado útil para investigar el significado personal y el impacto que tiene el cáncer para cada persona (29) .…”

Patients with haematological malignancies show a restricted body image focusing on function and emotion

“…This study aimed to investigate how newly diagnosed haemato‐oncology patients cope with the existential threat to their lives and especially with the threat to their BI. We therefore combined standardized questionnaires to assess the psychological well‐being and global QOL with an idiographic approach to assess the BI, called ‘Body Grid’(Weber et al . 2000a,b, 2001, 2002b).…”

Understanding the Attitudes of Patients with Cancer Toward Complementary and Alternative Therapies

“…32 However, the current findings suggest an additional value of the CAM therapy to the physical aspects of coping, a more active and self-sufficient position, as expressed by the patients' awareness and increased activity. Adopting this type of attitude may have important implications on the patient's coping, including emotional benefits, such as an increased sense of capability and inner strength.…”