Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Farsi Version of the Body Image Scale for Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background Mastectomy as a surgical treatment in women with breast cancer causes a change in their body image due to the loss of femininity and body integrity, decreased sense of sexual attractiveness, and dissatisfaction with the presence of surgical scars. The present study was conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the body image scale for breast cancer survivors. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 204 women with a mastectomy referred to Kermanshah's surgery and oncology office in 2021. Face and content validity were evaluated qualitatively. Construct validity was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (with maximum likelihood and Promax rotation) and confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients were used to verify internal consistency. Results The mean age of the participants was 46.57 (SD = 9.47). One factor was extracted that explained 46.56% of the total variance of body image. The factor load of the items varied between 0.561 and 0.801. The results of CFA also showed that the final model has a perfect fit: CMIN = 20.931; DF = 13; CMIN/FD = 1.610; p = 0.074; GFI = 0.972; AGFI = 0.939; IFI = 0.985; CFI = 0.985; TLI = 0.975; PNFI = 0.595; PCFI = 0.610; RMSEA = 0.055. internal consistency based on Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients was 0.856 and 0.861, respectively. Conclusion The Farsi version of the body image scale for breast cancer survivors has good construct validity and may be used in various studies in clinical and research settings.