Art therapy and its influence on body image in women facing breast cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer has both physical and psychosocial consequences.Therefore, within holistic rehabilitation approaches, the implementation of various therapeutic programmes -including those integrating complementary and expressive art-therapies -is recommended.Art therapy is increasingly recognised as a potentially beneficial form of psychological support that can contribute to emotional empowerment and improved quality of life; however, its effects in this population remain insufficiently explored.Objectives: The study aimed to examine the impact of art therapy on body image in relation to quality of life and emotional well-being in women with breast cancer and in women without breast cancer who are exposed to challenges related to breast cancer within their immediate social network. Methods:The study was conducted on a sample of 20 women.The therapy programme included visual art expression, music, literary texts, guided imagery, aromatherapy, and reflexology.Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQlI) and a visual analogue self-assessment scale (VAS) to evaluate emotional well-being.Result: Participants with breast cancer showed statistically significant improvements on the BIQLI variable measuring self-confidence and on the VAS, reflecting a statistically significant increase in emotional well-being after each of the six therapy sessions.Although no statistically significant differences were found between pre-and post-intervention scores on most evaluated variables, positive trends in the results suggest that art therapy may have a beneficial effect on the body experience, quality of life and emotional regulation.Conclusion: Further research using larger samples, controlled study designs, and longitudinal follow-ups is recommended to deepen understanding of art therapy's effects and clarify the factors that contribute to its more beneficial outcomes.