Impaired body image of young female survivors of childhood leukemia

Psychosomatics. 1997 Jan-Feb;38(1):54-62. doi: 10.1016/S0033-3182(97)71504-4.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the body image of young female survivors of leukemia. Young female survivors of leukemia (n = 42) were compared with healthy age-matched control subjects (n = 69). The study included a semistructured face-to-face interview and a psychological test. The data were separated into three distinct evaluations of each subject's body image: 1) the subject's self-assessment, 2) evaluation by a psychiatrist, and 3) the Rorschach test. The body images of the survivors were inferior to those of the control subjects in all three evaluations (P < 0.001). The preceding leukemia was assessed still as extremely threatening in 26% of the survivors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Image*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / psychology*
  • Leukemia / therapy
  • Personality Assessment
  • Personality Development*
  • Remission Induction
  • Sick Role*