title: My changed body: breast cancer, body image, distress and self-compassion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bodily changes after breast cancer treatment can lead to long-term distress. Self-compassion, the ability to be kind to oneself, is an internal resource that may enhance a woman's ability to adjust to cancer-related bodily changes. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that self-compassion mediates the relationship between body image and distress, controlling for alternate plausible mediators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of a nationwide breast cancer consumer network were invited to participate. A total of 279 women who had finished active cancer treatment completed the online survey. Assessments included the Body Image Scale; Self-compassion Scale; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and items measuring perceived normative pressure and comfort with one's weight. Possible mediating effects of proposed variables on the body image-distress relationship were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tests using a bootstrapping approach with multiple mediators were significant for self-compassion on distress. Body image disturbance was indirectly associated with distress through low self-compassion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body image disturbance and lower self-compassion were associated with increased psychological distress among these breast cancer survivors. This study provides preliminary evidence for a mediating role of self-compassion between body image disturbance and psychological distress, suggesting a potentially protective effect of higher levels of self-compassion for women at risk of experiencing body image disturbance.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Przezdziecki
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Kellie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stalgis-Bilinski
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology