| Concerns have been raised regarding the definitions of body image and how it is measured in psychosocial oncology. This study conceptualized the surgical treatment for breast cancer as a potential traumatic stressor on a female's body image. Body image distress (BID), a body image outcome, is defined as intrusive thoughts and avoidant behaviors reflecting this stressor. The Breast Impact of Treatment Scale (BITS) was theoretically developed to assess this construct. BID was examined in 196 women, initially assessed after breast cancer diagnosis/surgery and then reassessed at 12-months. Psychometric properties of the BITS were examined through studies of reliability, validity, stability (factorial invariance), and change over occasions and between surgical groups (BCT vs. MRM). Findings suggested that the BITS is a reliable and valid measure of BID. Consistent with previous research, women with more extensive surgery reported greater body image problems (i.e., BID) than women with less extensive surgery. Findings provided a framework to mitigate and possibly prevent BID following a breast cancer experience. |
