Appearance concerns among women with neurofibromatosis: examining sexual/bodily and social self‐consciousness. Issue 12 (19th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Kelly B.; Wang, Daphne L.; Plotkin, Scott R.; Park, Elyse R.
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 22:Issue 12(2013)
• Page Start: 2711
• Page End: 2719
• Publication Date: 2013-07-19
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3350-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Neurofibromatosis (NF) 1 and 2 have distinct appearance effects, yet little research has examined patients' appearance concerns. We assessed appearance concerns and self‐consciousness, self‐esteem, and loneliness among women with NF.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3350-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Women with NF1 (<italic>n</italic> = 79) and NF2 (<italic>n</italic> = 48) completed the Derriford Appearance Scale to assess appearance concerns and sexual/bodily and social self‐consciousness, Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Women's appearance concerns were coded to determine whether they were NF‐related and whether psychosocial factors contributed to the concerns.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3350-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A total of 85% of women reported appearance concerns, many of which were NF‐related and attributed to psychosocial factors. Women with NF1 reported significantly more sexual/bodily self‐consciousness but similar levels of social self‐consciousness compared with women with NF2. Significantly higher sexual/bodily self‐consciousness was found among married/cohabiting women regardless of NF group. Compared with general population norms and breast cancer survivors (BCS), women with NF1 reported significantly greater sexual/bodily and social self‐consciousness. Women with NF2 reported less sexual/bodily self‐consciousness compared with population norms, yet tended to report greater sexual/bodily self‐consciousness than BCS. Women with NF2 reported significantly greater social self‐consciousness compared with population norms and BCS. For both NF1 and NF2, higher levels of sexual/bodily and social self‐consciousness were related to lower self‐esteem and higher levels of social self‐consciousness to more loneliness.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3350-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Appearance concerns are prevalent, and social self‐consciousness is high, among women with NF1 and NF2. Women with NF1 compared with NF2 experience more sexual/bodily self‐consciousness. Providers should assess the impact of NF on women's self‐perceptions and address sexual, body image, and social concerns. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>