eISSN 2097-6054 ISSN 1672-9234 CN 11-5289/R
Responsible Institution:China Association for Science and Technology
Publishing:Chinese Nursing Journals Publishing House Co.,Ltd.
Sponsor:Chinese Nursing Association
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China Academic Journals Full-text Database
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Chinese Journal of Nursing Education ›› 2026, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (4): 498-504.doi: 10.3761/j.issn.1672-9234.2026.04.018

• Health Education and Health Promotion • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Mediating effect of self-compassion between perceived social support and body image in postoperative patients with head and neck cancer

SHAO Yanhong1(), YIN Huifang1, REN Haiyan2, FANG Shuiping2, XU Jingsi2, GAO Diya2, SHI Jiaqing2, ZHU Xiaoya2, HUANG Lihua1,*()   

  1. 1. Nursing Department,the First Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine,Hangzhou 310003,China
    2. Stomatology Department,the First Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine,Hangzhou 310003,China
  • Received:2025-09-04 Online:2026-04-15 Published:2026-04-16
  • Contact: *HUANG Lihua,E-mail:lihuahuang818@zju.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To explore the mediating effect of self-compassion between perceived social support and body image in postoperative patients with head and neck cancer. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to August 2024. A total of 610 postoperative patients with head and neck cancer who were hospitalized or attended follow-up outpatient visits in a tertiary Grade A hospital in Zhejiang Province were continuously selected as the research subjects. Data were collected using the General Information Questionnaire,Perceived Social Support Scale,Self-Compassion Scale,and Body Image Scale. Results A total of 577 valid questionnaires were collected,of which 221 patients(38.30%) exhibited body image disturbance. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that perceived social support not only directly predicted body image(direct effect was -0.135,P<0.05),but also indirectly influenced body image through self-compassion(indirect effect was -0.513,P<0.001). The indirect effect accounted for 79.17% of the total effect. Conclusion Self-compassion plays a partial mediating role between perceived social support and body image in postoperative patients with head and neck cancer. In clinical nursing,enhancing patients’ perceived social support and focusing on cultivating their self-compassion ability may help improve their body image.

Key words: Head and Neck Neoplasms, Self-Compassion, Social Support, Body Image, Mediation Analysis