title: Quality of life in patients with skin tumors: the mediator role of body image and social support.
abstract: This study analyzed the relationships between illness representations, psychological morbidity, family stress, and quality of life and whether these variables were mediated by body image and social support.
  
  
  
  The sample consisted of 106 patients with skin tumors, who answered the following measures: Dermatology Life Quality Index, Illness Perception Questionnaire-Brief, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, Index of Family Relations, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, and the Body Image Scale.
  
  
  
  Patients with poor quality of life showed more threatening cognitive and emotional illness representations, less perceived social support, higher psychological morbidity, and higher concern with body image. Body image mediated the relationship between cognitive and comprehension illness representations, family stress, psychological morbidity, and quality of life. Social support mediated the relationship between family stress/psychological morbidity and quality of life.
  
  
  
  Psychological intervention should focus on body image and social support, particularly in patients with melanoma, less disease duration, tumors in the face, head or neck, in an active professional status, and with lower education.
authors: School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: M Graça
authors: MG
authors: Pereira
authors: School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Mafalda
authors: M
authors: Ponte
authors: School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Ferreira
authors: Institute of Social Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: José C
authors: JC
authors: Machado
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: body image; oncology; quality of life; skin cancer; social support