Women who stay physically active after breast or gynecological cancer may experience stronger self-esteem and a more positive body image than those who are inactive, according to new research published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research.
The study explored how physical activity relates to psychological well-being among women with a history of breast or gynecological cancer, conditions that often bring lasting emotional and physical challenges even after treatment. Researchers compared physically active and inactive cancer survivors with healthy women, examining differences in body esteem and overall self-esteem.
Using an online survey, the researchers grouped participants based on cancer history and whether they met World Health Organization recommendations for physical activity: at least 150 min of moderate-intensity or 75 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. They also assessed body image through standard questionnaires that measure how people feel about their bodies and their overall self-worth.
The results showed that women who were physically active reported significantly higher body image and self-esteem than inactive participants, regardless of whether they had a history of cancer.
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Researchers found that the differences were especially pronounced in areas such as appearance, perceptions of body weight and global self-esteem (a general sense of self-worth and self-respect).
The authors noted that while the study cannot prove that physical activity directly causes improvements in self-esteem or body image, the results support growing evidence that lifestyle factors can influence emotional well-being in cancer survivors.
“While our results cannot establish causality, they suggest that promoting physical activity may be a valuable component of supportive care in oncology,” they wrote. “Future studies should employ longitudinal or interventional designs to clarify causal pathways and to explore how treatment-related factors interact with physical activity in shaping psychological outcomes.”
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