<p> Although breast cancer is typically considered a disease that affects women at an older age, younger women are also impacted by breast cancer. Additionally, current literature suggests that women who are diagnosed at a younger age face greater challenges adjusting to breast cancer survivorship. Young survivors are often in the midst of starting their career, beginning a family, and planning for their future. Thus, a cancer diagnosis drastically interrupts these plans. This study examined the relationship between different variables that are commonly studied in young breast cancer survivorship. Women were eligible if they were diagnosed between the ages of 19-45 years, were post-treatment at the time of the study, and first-time survivors of breast cancer. Participants were recruited from social media websites, online support and advocacy group, and cancer centers across the United States. Participants completed an online survey. This study examines the structure of the hypothesized latent variables included in a proposed structural model of psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer survivorship. Two of the four hypothesized latent factors were supported by the data, and a revised structural model of psychosocial adjustment to young breast cancer survivorship is provided. Follow-up research should examine the structural model and determine the most important factors in predicting young breast cancer survivors' quality of life and life satisfaction. </p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1998. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 59-07, Section: B, page: 3704. Adviser: Teresa Elliott.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1999. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 60-05, Section: B, page: 2338. Chair: Catherine Classen.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2005. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-04, Section: B, page: 2084. Chairperson: Judith Kaufman. Available also in print.

<p> Body image disturbances are associated with a variety of health compromising behaviors; however, less is known about their impact on health maintenance behaviors. The present study investigated the relationship between body image disturbances and the frequency of a specific body-focused health maintenance behavior: breast self-examination (BSE). It was hypothesized that two manifestations of body image disturbance, body shame and body avoidance, would be negatively associated with frequency of BSE in the past year and intended frequency of BSE in the coming year. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that health anxiety and risk perception for breast cancer would moderate the relationship between body image disturbance and frequency of BSE in the past year. As a secondary research question, the impact of body image disturbance on the self-reported level of negative affect experienced during BSE was investigated. </p><p> Participants were 120 women between the ages of 21 and 40 (M age = 24.14, SD = 4.78; M BMI = 24.73, SD = 5.75) recruited from a large public university. Following informed consent, participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing demographic variables, body image disturbances, BSE behaviors and intentions, health anxiety, and risk perception. Participants were also encouraged to complete follow-up questionnaires for three months assessing frequency of BSE and associated negative affect. </p><p> Results showed that when the entire sample was considered, neither body shame nor body avoidance were significantly associated with past year BSE or BSE intentions and neither health anxiety nor risk perception emerged as moderators. However, when only women ages 22 to 40 years old were considered in post hoc analyses, body shame significantly predicted past year BSE and both body shame and body avoidance significantly predicted BSE intentions. Additionally, risk perception emerged as a predictor of past year BSE. An additional post hoc analysis revealed that age moderated the relationship between risk perception and past year BSE when the entire sample was considered. Follow-up data revealed that neither body avoidance nor body shame significantly predicted affect during BSE after controlling for physical discomfort. These findings have important implications for health promotion among women of all ages.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1993. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-06, Section: B, page: 3349.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1996. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-08, Section: B, page: 5349.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1996. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-08, Section: B, page: 5317. Adviser: Teressa Elliott.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1997. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 58-08, Section: B, page: 4440. Adviser: Bruce Bongar.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1997. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 59-07, Section: B, page: 3697. Adviser: Laurie Roehrich.