Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Validating the Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale (Sabis) with Breast Cancer Patients

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale (SABIS), a self-report measure of body image and sexual adjustment for use with Turkish patients with breast cancer. We administered the SABIS to one hundred sixty-nine women who had undergone initial surgical treatment for primary breast cancer. The psychometric properties of the SABIS were examined, and it was found to be a reliable and valid assessment of body image and sexuality in patients with breast cancer following surgery; however, it did not cover all dimensions representing patients’ sexuality and body image. Patients’ sexual problems need to be assessed more comprehensively, using more culturally sensitive items.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. WHO|Breast cancer: Prevention and control. http://www.who.int/cancer/detection/breastcancer/en/

  2. Berterö, C., Wilmoth, M.C.: Breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment affecting the self: a meta-synthesis. Cancer Nurs. 30, 194–202; quiz 203–204 (2007)

  3. Thomas-MacLean, R.: Beyond dichotomies of health and illness: life after breast cancer. Nurs. Inq. 12, 200–209 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Langellier, K.M., Sullivan, C.F.: Breast talk in breast cancer narratives. Qual. Health Res. 8, 76–94 (1998)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Andersen, B.L.: In sickness and in health: maintaining intimacy after breast cancer recurrence. Cancer J. Sudbury Mass. 15, 70–73 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Avis, N.E., Crawford, S., Manuel, J.: Psychosocial problems among younger women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 13, 295–308 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Pelusi, J.: Sexuality and body image. Research on breast cancer survivors documents altered body image and sexuality. Am. J. Nurs. 106, 32–38 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Henson, H.K.: Breast cancer and sexuality. Sex. Disabil. 20, 261–275 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Baucom, D.H., Porter, L.S., Kirby, J.S., Gremore, T.M., Keefe, F.J.: Psychosocial issues confronting young women with breast cancer. Breast Dis. 23, 103–113 (2005)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Knobf, M.T.: The menopausal symptom experience in young mid-life women with breast cancer. Cancer Nurs. 24, 201–210; quiz 210–211 (2001)

  11. Speer, J.J., Hillenberg, B., Sugrue, D.P., Blacker, C., Kresge, C.L., Decker, V.B., Zakalik, D., Decker, D.A.: Study of sexual functioning determinants in breast cancer survivors. Breast J. 11, 440–447 (2005)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Meyerowitz, B.E., Desmond, K.A., Rowland, J.H., Wyatt, G.E., Ganz, P.A.: Sexuality following breast cancer. J. Sex Marital Ther. 25, 237–250 (1999)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Alder, J., Zanetti, R., Wight, E., Urech, C., Fink, N., Bitzer, J.: Sexual dysfunction after premenopausal stage I and II breast cancer: do androgens play a role? J. Sex. Med. 5, 1898–1906 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Burwell, S.R., Case, L.D., Kaelin, C., Avis, N.E.: Sexual problems in younger women after breast cancer surgery. J. Clin. Oncol. Off. J. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol. 24, 2815–2821 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Thors, C.L., Broeckel, J.A., Jacobsen, P.B.: Sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. Cancer Control J. Moffitt Cancer Cent. 8, 442–448 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Archibald, S., Lemieux, S., Byers, E.S., Tamlyn, K., Worth, J.: Chemically-induced menopause and the sexual functioning of breast cancer survivors. Women Ther. 29, 83–106 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mortimer, J.E., Boucher, L., Baty, J., Knapp, D.L., Ryan, E., Rowland, J.H.: Effect of tamoxifen on sexual functioning in patients with breast cancer. J. Clin. Oncol. Off. J. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol. 17, 1488–1492 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Takahashi, M., Ohno, S., Inoue, H., Kataoka, A., Yamaguchi, H., Uchida, Y., Oshima, A., Abiru, K., Ono, K., Noguchi, R., Kai, I.: Impact of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on women’s sexuality: a survey of Japanese patients. Psychooncology 17, 901–907 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Garrusi, B., Faezee, H.: How do Iranian women with breast cancer conceptualize sex and body image? Sex. Disabil. 26, 159–165 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wilmoth, M.C.: The aftermath of breast cancer: an altered sexual self. Cancer Nurs. 24, 278–286 (2001)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Fobair, P., Stewart, S.L., Chang, S., D’Onofrio, C., Banks, P.J., Bloom, J.R.: Body image and sexual problems in young women with breast cancer. Psychooncology. 15, 579–594 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Wiggins, D.L., Wood, R., Granai, C.O., Dizon, D.S.: Sex, intimacy, and the gynecologic oncologists: survey results of the New England Association of Gynecologic Oncologists (NEAGO). J. Psychosoc. Oncol. 25, 61–70 (2007)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Carver, C.S., Pozo-Kaderman, C., Price, A.A., Noriega, V., Harris, S.D., Derhagopian, R.P., Robinson, D.S., Moffat Jr, F.L.: Concern about aspects of body image and adjustment to early stage breast cancer. Psychosom. Med. 60, 168–174 (1998)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Brown, T.A., Cash, T.F., Mikulka, P.J.: Attitudinal body-image assessment: factor analysis of the Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. J. Pers. Assess. 55, 135–144 (1990)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Schag, C.A., Heinrich, R.L., Aadland, R.L., Ganz, P.A.: Assessing problems of cancer patients: psychometric properties of the cancer inventory of problem situations. Health Psychol. Off. J. Div. Health Psychol. Am. Psychol. Assoc. 9, 83–102 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Hopwood, P., Fletcher, I., Lee, A., Al Ghazal, S.: A body image scale for use with cancer patients. Eur. J. Cancer Oxf. Engl. 37, 189–197 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Baxter, N.N., Goodwin, P.J., McLeod, R.S., Dion, R., Devins, G., Bombardier, C.: Reliability and validity of the body image after breast cancer questionnaire. Breast J. 12, 221–232 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Syrjala, K.L., Schroeder, T.C., Abrams, J.R., Atkins, T.Z., Brown, W.S., Sanders, J.E., Schubert, M.A., Heiman, J.R.: Sexual function measurement and outcomes in cancer survivors and matched controls. J. Sex Res. 37, 213–225 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Thirlaway, K., Fallowfield, L., Cuzick, J.: The Sexual Activity Questionnaire: a measure of women’s sexual functioning. Qual. Life Res. Int. J. Qual. Life Asp. Treat. Care Rehabil. 5, 81–90 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Dalton, E.J., Rasmussen, V.N., Classen, C.C., Grumann, M., Palesh, O.G., Zarcone, J., Kraemer, H.C., Kirshner, J.J., Colman, L.K., Morrow, G.R., Spiegel, D.: Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale (SABIS): a new measure for patients with breast cancer. Breast J. 15, 287–290 (2009)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Önen Sertöz, O., Elbi Mete, H., Noyan, A., Alper, M., Kapkaç, M.: Effects of surgery type on body image, sexuality, self-esteem, and marital adjustment in breast cancer: a controlled study. Türk Psikiyatri Derg. Turk. J. Psychiatry. 15, 264–275 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Zigmond, A.S., Snaith, R.P.: The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 67, 361–370 (1983)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Aydemir, Ö., Güvenir, T., Küey, L., Kültür, S.: The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Türk Psikiyatri Derg. 8, 280–287 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Ibbotson, T., Maguire, P., Selby, P., Priestman, T., Wallace, L.: Screening for anxiety and depression in cancer patients: the effects of disease and treatment. Eur. J. Cancer Oxf. Engl. 1990(30A), 37–40 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. McGahuey, C.A., Gelenberg, A.J., Laukes, C.A., Moreno, F.A., Delgado, P.L., McKnight, K.M., Manber, R.: The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX): reliability and validity. J. Sex Marital Ther. 26, 25–40 (2000)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Soykan, A.: The reliability and validity of Arizona sexual experiences scale in Turkish ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. Int. J. Impot. Res. 16, 531–534 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Secord, P.F., Jourard, S.M.: The appraisal of body-cathexis: body-cathexis and the self. J. Consult. Psychol. 17, 343–347 (1953)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hovardaoğlu, S.: Body image scale. 3P. 1–26 (1993)

  39. Çuhadaroğlu, F.: Self-Esteem in Adolescents. Unpublished thesis. Ankara, Turkey: Hacettepe University, Department of Psychiatry (1986)

  40. Arora, N.K., Gustafson, D.H., Hawkins, R.P., McTavish, F., Cella, D.F., Pingree, S., Mendenhall, J.H., Mahvi, D.M.: Impact of surgery and chemotherapy on the quality of life of younger women with breast carcinoma: a prospective study. Cancer 92, 1288–1298 (2001)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ganz, P.A., Kwan, L., Stanton, A.L., Krupnick, J.L., Rowland, J.H., Meyerowitz, B.E., Bower, J.E., Belin, T.R.: Quality of life at the end of primary treatment of breast cancer: first results from the moving beyond cancer randomized trial. J. Natl Cancer Inst. 96, 376–387 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Yurek, D., Farrar, W., Andersen, B.L.: Breast cancer surgery: comparing surgical groups and determining individual differences in postoperative sexuality and body change stress. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 68, 697–709 (2000)

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ganz, P.A., Rowland, J.H., Desmond, K., Meyerowitz, B.E., Wyatt, G.E.: Life after breast cancer: understanding women’s health-related quality of life and sexual functioning. J. Clin. Oncol. Off. 16, 501–514 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Gilbert, E., Emilee, G., Ussher, J.M., Perz, J.: Sexuality after breast cancer: a review. Maturitas 66, 397–407 (2010)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Bloom, J.R., Stewart, S.L., Chang, S., Banks, P.J.: Then and now: quality of life of young breast cancer survivors. Psychooncology 13, 147–160 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Akechi, T., Okuyama, T., Sugawara, Y., Shima, Y., Furukawa, T.A., Uchitomi, Y.: Screening for depression in terminally ill cancer patients in Japan. J. Pain Symptom Manage. 31, 5–12 (2006)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Akizuki, N., Akechi, T., Nakanishi, T., Yoshikawa, E., Okamura, M., Nakano, T., Murakami, Y., Uchitomi, Y.: Development of a brief screening interview for adjustment disorders and major depression in patients with cancer. Cancer 97, 2605–2613 (2003)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Fobair, P., Spiegel, D.: Concerns about sexuality after breast cancer. Cancer J. Sudbury Mass. 15, 19–26 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Ilkkaracan, P.: Deconstructing sexuality in the Middle East: challenges and discourses. Ashgate Publishing Ltd, Farnham (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Manderson, L., Stirling, L.: The absent breast: speaking of the mastectomied body. Fem. Psychol. 17, 75–92 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Professor Leyla Welkin, a native English speaker, for her help with the translation of the SABIS into the Turkish language.

Conflict of interest

The author declares that the authors have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Psychiatry No: 1, Ankara, Turkey

    Elvan Özalp, Ersin Hatice Karslıoğlu & Seda Ersoy Peker

  2. Psyciatry Department Uncubozköy Mh., Celal Bayar University, 45030, Manisa, Turkey

    Ömer Aydemir

  3. Tunus Cad. No: 72/6 Kavaklidere, Ankara, Turkey

    Haldun Soygür

  4. Psychiatry, Cumhuriyet Mh., Uşak Government Hospital, 64200, Uşak, Turkey

    Burcu Manisali Erkek

  5. Psychiatry, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Eskişehir Yolu Üzeri, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Semra Ulusoy Kaymak

Authors
  1. Elvan Özalp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ersin Hatice Karslıoğlu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ömer Aydemir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Haldun Soygür
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Burcu Manisali Erkek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Seda Ersoy Peker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Semra Ulusoy Kaymak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elvan Özalp.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Özalp, E., Karslıoğlu, E.H., Aydemir, Ö. et al. Validating the Sexual Adjustment and Body Image Scale (Sabis) with Breast Cancer Patients. Sex Disabil 33, 253–267 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-014-9367-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-014-9367-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation