Self-Deception and its Relationship to Body Image Satisfaction aming Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal self-deception and its relationship to body image satisfaction among breast cancer patients. To achieve the objectives of the study, the self-deception scale (Sirvent et al., 2019) and the body image scale (Baxter et al., 2006) were used. The sample of the study consisted of (211) breast cancer patients who were selected by the convenient method. The findings demonstrated that the level of self-deception was moderate on the total score and dimensions as well and that the level of the body image satisfaction was moderate on the total score and all dimensions of the scale except for the dimension (vulnerability) which was obtained a high level, and the dimension (body fears) which got a low level. Additionally, the findings revealed statistically significant differences in the mean scores of body image satisfaction and self-deception related to the variables of removing one of the breasts (mastectomy) in favour of women who had one of the breasts removed, and the variable of the number of years of infection in favour of a group of less than 5 years compared to a group of more than 10 years, and in favour of a group of 5 - 10 years compared to a group of more than 10 years, The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the means of self-deception and satisfaction with body image due to the two variables: age and marital status. A positive medium-strength relationship between self-deception and body image satisfaction was evident.