Abstract B019: Body image distress among young adult Hispanic cancer survivors

Abstract The current study presents the baseline findings of body image distress (BID) from a longitudinal cohort study on social health, activity behaviors, and quality of life among young adult (YA) cancer survivors, with emphasis on Hispanic YA cancer survivors. We investigated the prevalence and patterns of BID and stratified by Hispanic/Latinx vs non-Hispanic origin. BID is an often overlooked yet persistent issue that is derived from the visible or long-term effects of cancer treatment. If left unaddressed, BID can potentially exacerbate a cancer survivor’s psychological distress, leading to non-adherence to survivorship care and impairing overall quality of life. Although existing research has shown an association between body image and distress, most has centralized on various cancer types and clinical subgroups, overlooking diverse cancer survivor populations who may face certain health disparities in access to care regarding survivorship outcomes. Our YA participants (N = 175) completed a questionnaire within three months of a de novo cancer diagnosis. Surveys comprised demographic and psychosocial data and included a nine-item measure, the Body Image Scale (BIS), assessing dissatisfaction regarding body image in appearance, self-consciousness, self-physical and sexual unattractiveness, attire, treatment effects, and avoidance behavior. Responses were rated on a 5-item Likert scale, ranging from “not at all” to “very much”. The sample was predominantly female (66.9%) and of Hispanic/Latinx origin (57.6%). The majority of participants (23.3%) reported being in the lower-income bracket (< $20,000), with a majority also being a 4-year college graduate (30.2%). Among the entire sample, approximately 77.1% of participants reported some degree of self-consciousness, with 24.6% reported feeling very self-conscious about their appearance. Stratified results by ethnicity revealed high body image concerns among Hispanic participants (N = 97), with 48.5% reporting that they avoided looking at themselves’ undressed and 55.7% reported being dissatisfied with their bodies overall. In addition, 22.7% of Hispanic participants reported feeling “very” self-conscious about their appearance, underscoring the emotional toll of distress of body image and treatment amongst this subgroup. The study’s findings align with previous research that reinforces the commonality of body image concerns following cancer in this survivor population. In our study, we contribute to the gap in research by identifying high-rated BID among Hispanic survivors who may additionally face cultural stigma and limited access to psychosocial resources. Addressing BID requires the utility of a multifaceted approach, with follow-up management plans including evaluation, treatment of mental distress, and interventions that are culturally tailored and patient-centered for this at-risk population. Such an approach may decrease body image concerns and improve quality of life for Hispanic/Latinx YA cancer survivors. Citation Format: Mariah B. Echeverria, Julia Stal, Maureen Cairns, Priscilla Marin, Jonathan N. Kaslander, Kimberly A. Miller. Body image distress among young adult Hispanic cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B019.