SELF-REPRESENTATIONS IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS: BODY IMAGE, INJURED SELF, AND AVAILABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS

In recent years, research on the Self has burgeoned in the psychological field; however, knowledge gaps still exist because most studies have failed to acknowledge the multidimensional nature of self-representations in breast cancer patients and survivors. My Ph.D. thesis focuses on the impact of the Self on the Quality of Life in breast cancer patients and survivors. The current project proposes the need for a renovated definition of the Self with the integration of a new self-representation based on the association between autobiographical memory and the cancer experience. A specific and illness-related self-representation, called “Injured Self”, has been conceptualized and explored on a practical level. Specifically, five studies addressed the Self, Body Image, and the Injured Self through quantitative and qualitative methods. In particular, the first study reported the impact of bodily representations on decisions in a healthy population. Given the relevance of bodily self, a review and meta-analysis study demonstrated the effectiveness of mixed-methods interventions on Body Image in breast cancer patients and survivors. However, Body Image did not appropriately address all of the bodily’ issues in breast cancer patients and survivors. Starting from the definition of the Injured Self, a program of both physical exercises sessions and psychological interventions tailored to the Injured Self’ issues was proposed. Findings evidenced the benefits of this intervention for breast cancer patients and survivors’ well-being. Then, in order to promote the implementation of a holistic approach and further explore constructs related to the Injured Self, the fourth exploratory study demonstrated the influence of bodily compassion and metacognition on breast cancer survivors’ bodily self. Starting from these findings, the last study proposed new psychological interventions to promote a positive Injured Self by addressing body compassion’s contents. In conclusion, findings of this Ph.D. project suggest that addressing Body Image may be insufficient to promote body-related well-being in breast cancer patients and survivors. Psycho-oncology may benefit from further research on more complex constructs, such as the Injured Self. Finally, the present thesis gives future directions to increase breast cancer survivors' well-being based on their experience of the body and the Self.