The association between self-consciousness about appearance and psychological adjustment among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and survivors: The moderating role of appearance investment

This study examined the moderating role of two facets of appearance investment (self-evaluative salience (SES) and motivational salience (MS)) in the relationship between self-consciousness about appearance and psychological adjustment (depression, anxiety and psychological quality of life (QoL)) in a sample of 134 breast cancer patients (68 newly diagnosed patients and 66 survivors). No significant differences were found between groups on body image variables. Among survivors, the associations between self-consciousness about appearance and the outcome variables were only significant at high (depression, psychological QoL) levels and at moderate (psychological QoL) levels of SES. Self-consciousness about appearance contributed to poor adjustment in both groups. This study demonstrates that appearance investment plays a key role in patients’ adjustment and highlights the SES–MS distinction. SES seems to be a vulnerability factor for poor adjustment, and MS seems to be a protective factor that helps women cope with changes in appearance

► Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and survivors were studied.
► There were no group differences on self-consciousness about appearance.
► Appearance investment moderated the association between self-consciousness about appearance and psychological adjustment among survivors.
► The self-evaluative salience of investment seems to be a vulnerability factor for poor adjustment.
► The motivational salience seems to function as a protective factor.