Latent Profiles of Stigma and Their Influencing Factors in Post-Mastectomy Breast Cancer Patients: A Conservation of Resources Theory Perspective
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Objective
To identify the latent profiles of stigma among breast cancer patients following modified radical mastectomy and to analyze their influencing factors, thereby providing an empirical foundation for tailored psychological nursing interventions.
Methods
A convenience sampling strategy was employed to recruit 276 post-mastectomy breast cancer patients from the breast surgery department of a tertiary care hospital in Sichuan Province between January 2026 and May 2026. Data were collected using a general demographic questionnaire, the Social Impact Scale (SIS), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (PSSS). Item scores of the SIS served as explicit indicators for latent profile analysis (LPA). Univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to identify independent predictors associated with stigma profile membership.
Results
The total SIS score among post-mastectomy breast cancer patients was 53.88±7.90, indicating a moderate level of stigma. LPA yielded three distinct latent profiles: the low-stigma profile (22.1%), moderate-stigma profile (57.2%), and high-stigma profile (20.7%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, educational level, employment status, monthly per capita income, affected upper-limb paresthesia, clinical TNM stage, self-compassion, and perceived social support were independent predictors of stigma profile membership (all P <0.05).
Conclusion
Stigma among post-mastectomy breast cancer patients exhibits substantial latent heterogeneity, categorizable into three distinct psychological profiles. Healthcare professionals should pay particular attention to patients who are younger, more highly educated, face heavier economic burdens, present with affected upper-limb paresthesia, or are diagnosed with advanced TNM stages. Implementing stratified and individual-tailored interventions focused on cultivating self-compassion and bolstering social support is essential to attenuate stigma and foster postoperative psychological recovery.
