Development trajectory of body image and subjective well-being in patients with head and neck cancer

YANG Qingfeng; ZHAO Chuanjing; HUANG Shengfei; XIONG Yingyou; HU Rong; LONG Dejian

doi:10.12102/j.issn.1009-6493.2025.18.008

Abstract：Objective:To explore the development trajectory of body image and subjective well-being in patients with head and neck cancer and the predictive relationship between them.Methods:A total of 162 patients with head and neck cancer admitted to Minda Hospital of Hubei Minzu University and Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Central Hospital from February 2022 to March 2024 were selected as research subjects.The patients were surveyed by using a general information questionnaire,Body Image Scale(BIS),and General Well-Being Schedule(GWBS).Results:Body image and subjective well-being were correlated at all 3 time points(at diagnosis,3 months post-diagnosis,and 6 months post-diagnosis)(P<0.05).The cross-lagged model showed that body image levels negatively predicted subjective well-being at the subsequent time point(P<0.05).The latent growth model showed that patients with head and neck cancer exhibited an increasing trend in body image from diagnosis to 6 months post-diagnosis(S=0.286,P<0.001).However,subjective well-being showed decreasing trend(S=-0.305,P<0.001).At the initial level,body image and subjective well-being were negatively correlated(r=-0.378,P=0.002).The initial level of body image positively predicted its own rate of change(β=0.342,P=0.008)and positively predicted the rate of change in subjective well-being(β=0.532,P=0.003).Additionally,the rate of change in body image positively predicted the rate of change in subjective well-being(β=0.567,P<0.001).Conclusions:Body image showed an upward trend in patients with head and neck cancer after diagnosis.And subjective well-being showed downward trend.Body image was an important influencing factor of subjective well-being in patients with head and neck cancer.