Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy on Body Image and Sexual Self-Efficacy in Women with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer can lead to considerable physical and psychological challenges in women, including disturbances in body image and sexual functioning. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in enhancing body image and sexual self-efficacy among women with breast cancer. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest control-group design. The participants included ۳۹ married women aged ۲۰–۴۵ years diagnosed with breast cancer, who visited specialist clinics in Ardabil, Iran, during the second half of ۲۰۲۴. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = ۱۹) or a control group (n = ۲۰). The experimental group participated in eight ۷۵-minute CFT group sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Body Image Concern Inventory and the Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS version ۲۲. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in both outcome variables. Body image significantly increased compared to the control group (F = ۴۵۰.۳۸, p < ۰.۰۱; effect size = ۰.۸۲), as did sexual self-efficacy (F = ۶۵.۲۲, p < ۰.۰۱; effect size = ۰.۵۵). Conclusion: CFT demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving body image and sexual self-efficacy in women with breast cancer. These findings suggest that CFT can be a beneficial therapeutic intervention and may be integrated into psychosocial care programs for this population.

کلیدواژه ها:

Compassion-Focused Therapy ، Body Image ، Breast Cancer ، Sexual Self-Efficacy ، Psychological Intervention