Abstract

BackgroundGenetic testing among women for BRCA1/2 mutation can have various psychological effects, such as those focusing on body image. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a generic scale assessing breast and body image (BBIS) in healthy women tested for BRCA1/2 mutations.MethodsA Dutch body image scale focusing on both general and breast-related body image was translated into French. It was presented to a French cohort of female cancer-free BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and non-carriers (N = 568). The psychometric properties of the scale were studied by assessing its dimensional and factorial structure, internal consistency, construct-related validity, and external validity.ResultsThe scale was found to be a satisfactory psychometric tool for assessing both body image and breast image. The three main dimensions which emerged were classified under the headings “values attached to body image”, “satisfaction with body image and perceived attractiveness”, and “satisfaction with breasts”. The BBIS scores were not significantly associated with the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics or their BRCA1/2 mutation carrier status, but significant associations were observed between these scores and the women’s medical and behavioural characteristics.ConclusionsThe BBIS is a generic tool which can be used to assess body image in either affected or unaffected women. The scale will have to be administered to other populations in order to confirm its validity.

Highlights

  • Genetic testing among women for BRCA1/2 mutation can have various psychological effects, such as those focusing on body image

  • We studied five fit indices [31]: the Normed Fit Index (NFI), the TuckerLewis Index (TLI), the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation and its confidence interval (RMSEA), and the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC)

  • In order to assess the external validity of the scale, we studied the associations existing between the scores obtained on the Body and Breast Image Scale (BBIS) and various covariates previously found in the literature to be associated with the body image

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Summary

Introduction

Genetic testing among women for BRCA1/2 mutation can have various psychological effects, such as those focusing on body image. Body image is a complex, multidimensional concept at the crossroads between various fields. In order to assess body image in clinical populations, several scales have been developed for use in clinical practice and research and validated on these particular populations [16,17,18]. These scales can be used only on the specific populations for which they were designed, to assess the effects of a disease and its treatment on the patients’ body image

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