Body image disturbance, psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in adolescents with amputation

Background: Physical and emotional situations experienced by amputees can affect body image and quality of life (QoL). Although adolescence is a time when appearance becomes more important, there are insufficient studies in literature examining the effect of body image disturbance (BID) on QoL and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with amputation. Objective: To investigate the BID, psychosocial adjustment and QOL in adolescents with amputation. Methods: This cross-sectional study included individuals aged 11e18 years with amputation. The Amputee Body Image Scale was used to determine BID, the psychosocial adjustment subscale of Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale was used to investigate the psychosocial adjustment to amputation, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory was used to determine the QoL. Results: Evaluation was made of 42 adolescents (26 boys, 16 girls) with a mean age of 14.24 +/- 2.25 years. Significant correlations were found between BID and age of fitting of the first prosthesis, psychosocial adjustment and QoL (p < 0.05). 38% of the variance of QoL was predicted by perceived body image and income of the family. 34% of the variance of psychosocial adjustment was predicted by perceived body image (p < 0.05). Adolescents suffering phantom limb pain were seen to have lower QoL scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: BID is an important predictor of psychosocial adjustment and QoL in adolescent amputees. Therefore, a prosthesis that ensures the integrity of the body image should be fitted at an as early age as possible before the onset of body image disorder. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.