Body Satisfaction in Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes or a History of Childhood Cancer

Background: It is widely believed that health conditions such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) and childhood cancer (CC) may increase body dissatisfaction, but consistent evidence is lacking. Aims: This study assesses the impact of a severe health condition (T1D or CC) on body satisfaction in emerging adults, beyond differences in demographics and self-esteem by using propensity weighting. Methods: First, propensity weighting made the groups (T1D/CC vs. comparison group) as comparable as possible on demographics and self-esteem. Second, both disease samples were compared to the comparison group on body satisfaction using linear regression models. All variables included in the propensity weighting and the propensity weights were entered as covariates. Results: Group differences were reduced, yet small imbalances remained. Results showed that health status did not significantly predict body satisfaction in either model. Limitations: Future research should move beyond the focus on appearance to understand the role of these health conditions on one's relationship with one's body. Conclusion: This study suggest that emerging adults with T1D and those who survived CC did not differ from their healthy peers in body satisfaction when the groups were made as comparable as possible on demographics and self-esteem.