Sexual and reproductive health cancer screening avoidance: The role of body image

Abstract

The current study examines the relationship of female genital self-image, weight-related cancer screening avoidance, and internalized weight stigma among cisgender women that can provide knowledge about avoidance of life-saving preventative healthcare. This cross-sectional survey included a convenience sample of 384 U.S. cisgender women who were 18+. The sample was primarily white (n = 260, 67.7 %) with a mean age of 33.18 years. 28.4 % reported avoiding a pap smear, 27.1 % avoided a clinical breast exam, and 29.4 % avoided a mammogram. Using multivariate logistic regressions, our results show high internalized weight stigma moderates the relationship of positive genital self-image on weight-related genital and breast cancer screening avoidance. Thus, the odds of avoiding screenings are positive, where the odds of avoidance slightly decreases from the interaction term as female genital body image increases. Interventions to improve female genital body image among cisgender women may lessen the effects of internalized weight stigma on avoiding reproductive cancer screenings. BMI was only a predictor for avoiding pap tests. Further examination is warranted because BMI and sexual health behaviors are not usually associated in body image research. Clinical workforce training is needed to educate providers about the harm of weight stigma and its relationship with healthcare avoidance.