Body esteem and sexual life in Turkish patients with cancer

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting body esteem and sexual life among Turkish individuals diagnosed with cancer, exploring the relationship between treatment-related physical changes and psychosexual well-being.

A descriptive and correlational design was employed. The sample consisted of 103 patients receiving treatment in an oncology unit of a medical faculty. Data were collected between November 2022 and January 2023 using a personal information form, the Body-Esteem Scale (BES), and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX).

The mean age of participants was 54.72 ± 9.39 years. Findings showed that body self-esteem scores were below average (39.06 ± 11.97) and mean ASEX scores (18.34 ± 6.37) were well above the clinical threshold of 11. Multiple regression analysis showed that there were variables predicting body self-esteem (R² = 0.199, p < 0.001). Sexual life was significantly affected by gender, BMI, and cancer stage, and women reported higher levels of dysfunction (p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between the BES "attribution" subscale and total ASEX scores (r = -0.284, p = 0.004).

Cancer treatment and its complications are significant determinants of both body image and sexual health in Turkish patients. This study shows that clinical factors such as cancer-related weight loss, edema, and catheter presence significantly affect body self-esteem, while sexual dysfunction is primarily influenced by gender, BMI, and disease stage. Addressing these psychosexual challenges is essential for improving the overall quality of life for individuals progressing through the cancer process.