Self-acceptance and associated factors among Chinese women with breast cancer

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To identify self-acceptance and associated socio-demographic and disease factors among Chinese women with breast cancer.

Background: Although it is recognised that breast cancer can affect a woman's feelings of self-acceptance, there are few studies concerning the level of self-acceptance among women with breast cancer and factors associated with self-acceptance in this population.

Design: Cross-sectional research design.

Methods: Data were collected using the convenience sampling method. A total of 308 women with breast cancer were investigated using the Self-Acceptance Questionnaire.

Results: The mean score on the Self-Acceptance Questionnaire was 39·79 ± 5·14, indicating that the women in this study had low levels of self-acceptance. Multiple regression analysis indicated that self-acceptance was positively associated with the time since diagnosis, household income and the presence of medical insurance/government-funded medical treatment, while Tumour, Lymph Node, Metastasis stage was negatively associated with self-acceptance. With respect to work status, retired patients had the highest levels of self-acceptance, those who had returned to work had moderate levels of self-acceptance and those who had not yet returned to work had the lowest levels of self-acceptance.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the level of self-acceptance among women with breast cancer in China is low, and suggests that there is room to improve. Several factors are significantly associated with the self-acceptance of women with breast cancer.

Relevance to clinical practice: Medical staff should realise that the level of self-acceptance among women with breast cancer in China is low and has room to improve. It is important to conduct appropriate interventions to improve self-acceptance among these women, based on an understanding of the factors associated with self-acceptance.

Keywords: breast cancer; self-acceptance; self-evaluation.