Body change stress, sexual function, and marital intimacy in korean patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: A crucial factor influencing the quality of life of patients with breast cancer is marital intimacy, which, along with emotional support, helps them overcome difficult treatments. This study aimed to elucidate and confirm the effects of body change stress and sexual function in marital intimacy. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey on 190 patients with breast cancer. They completed the breast-impact of treatment scale, female sexual function index, and revised dyadic adjustment scale. RESULTS: The patients’ average age was 46.27 (6.84), and the age distribution ranged from 25 to 59 years. These variables showed statistically significant differences according to the chemotherapy period (P ​< ​0.05) and type of surgery (P ​< ​0.05). Body change stress negatively correlated with sexual function (r ​= ​−0.523, P ​< ​0.001) and marital intimacy (r ​= ​−0.545, P ​< ​0.001). Sexual function positively correlated with marital intimacy (r ​= ​0.363, P ​< ​0.001). Marital intimacy was affected by the changes in body stress (β ​= ​−0.473, P ​< ​0.001). Sexual function did not affect marital intimacy (β ​= ​0.084, P ​= ​0.289). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in body stress and chemotherapy treatment should be considered in patients with breast cancer for better marital intimacy. Intervention strategies that consider the characteristics discussed could improve marital intimacy for patients with breast cancer.