Abstract
BackgroundThe Self-Image Scale is a self-report measure originally developed for use in women with cancer. Two subscales assess appearance satisfaction (self-acceptance) and perceptions of partners’ acceptance of their appearance (partner-acceptance). This study aimed to increase the Self-Image Scale’s utility by 1) confirming the two-factor structure of the German version of the Self-Image Scale, 2) testing measurement invariance across sex and age groups and validity, and 3) gathering general population normative data.MethodsConfirmatory factor analysis methods were used to examine the proposed two-factor model in a random sample of adults from the general German population (N = 1367). Measurement invariance, scale reliability, and validity were assessed.ResultsThe original factor structure and measurement invariance across sexes and age groups were supported. Women showed significantly lower self-acceptance than men. Adolescent and young adult women showed higher self-acceptance than senior women. For both sexes, partner-acceptance lowered across successive age cohorts. Internal consistencies were good.ConclusionsResults support the use of the German version of the Self-Image Scale in research and clinical practice. Research directions include validation in further diseases, collecting normative data across countries, and dyadic research, particularly exploring partner-acceptance across the life span.
Highlights
Results support the use of the German version of the Self-Image Scale in research and clinical practice
A considerable body of psycho-oncology research indicates that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can lead to significant body image and sexual concerns in both women and men [1,2,3]
There was no clear evidence that body image in cancer survivors is worse than in the general population; almost half the studies found no difference between healthy and cancer populations, and three studies found a more positive body image in cancer survivors [3]
Summary
A considerable body of psycho-oncology research indicates that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can lead to significant body image and sexual concerns in both women and men [1,2,3]. Diminished body image and sexual problems can, in turn, have negative consequences on different facets of mental health like anxiety and depression [4, 5] and sense of self or wholeness [6]. The extent of body image impairment and sexuality issues in cancer patients, relative to healthy people, is still not fully understood. This is due, in part, to a relatively small number of case-control studies that compared cancer patients or survivors with healthy control groups. Lehmann, Hagedoorn, and Tuinman’s [3] systematic review found only 25 studies that compared cancer survivors and healthy control groups across different facets of body image. This study aimed to increase the Self-Image Scale’s utility by 1) confirming the two-factor structure of the German version of the Self-Image Scale, 2) testing measurement invariance across sex and age groups and validity, and 3) gathering general population normative data
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