Mastectomy and related treatments: impact of appearance satisfaction on self-esteem

According to the symbolic-interactionist perspective, how the self is presented to others in social interaction provides critical cues that affect how others perceive an individual. Thus evaluations of one's own appearance, including body image, influence feelings about the self as presented to others. In addition, the integration of societal values, cultural imagery, and life experiences influence women's perceptions of their bodies. A model of appearance satisfaction and self-esteem was developed and tested through path analysis using quantitative data reported by 933 post-mastectomy women in a statewide survey. Qualitative data from follow-up interviews with 27 of the patients were used to supplement the quantitative analyses. Clothing importance was perceived as less critical than medically related issues, but more critical than social issues. Findings indicate that age and whether or not one had undergone reconstructive surgery significantly contributed to satisfaction with appearance. In turn, appearance satisfaction had a significant effect (p less than .001) on self-esteem and accounted for 12 percent of the variance in self-esteem. Compared to the attitudes of older, non-employed women, the appearance satisfaction of young woman who were employed tended to be influenced more by medical treatments than by reconstructive surgery.