Relationship between body image and health‐related quality of life in Chinese cancer survivors during the transitional cancer survivorship

Abstract Background Previous research has documented the negative impact of cancer treatment on body image and health‐related quality of life among survivors, and the positive relationship between those factors. However, existing evidence is mainly based on Western studies of female survivors, and there is thus a huge knowledge gap in research on non‐Western cancer survivors. Objectives The aim of the study was to assess body image and health‐related quality of life, and explore their relationship, among Chinese cancer survivors during transitional survivorship. Methods Chinese cancer survivors with various diagnoses at the oncology outpatient clinic of a regional hospital in Hong Kong were invited to complete a self‐reported survey on socio‐demographic and clinical data, the instrument of Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors and Body Image Scale. Results A convenience sample of 402 Chinese cancer survivors was recruited, with a mean age of 54.4 years, the majority female (70.4%). In general, participants reported satisfactory body image but only fair health‐related quality of life. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that body image was independently associated with both generic and cancer‐specific health‐related quality of life after controlling for socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics ( B = 9.572, P < 0.001; B = 5.165, P < 0.001). Conclusions Addressing body image may be an effective approach to enhancing Chinese cancer survivors' health‐related quality of life during their transitional survivorship. Since there is a lack of attention given to body image in local clinical settings, early assessment and appropriate interventions should be considered.