Implementing the framed portrait experience with Italian breast cancer survivors: a pilot study assessing short term effects of an existential approach to body image, coping skills, and self-efficacy

Purpose Breast cancer (BC) and its treatments significantly impact the psychological wellbeing of women. Interventions offered during cancer survivorship have documented positive consequences for quality of life. However, limited evidence is available regarding the implementation of therapeutic photography. This study investigated the efficacy of the framed portrait experience (FPE) when implemented to BC survivors. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted. Participants were enrolled in a non-randomized pre-post intervention with a comparison group. Forty BC survivors were recruited using a convenience sampling approach; of these, 20 were subsequently allocated to the intervention (FPE group) and 20 to the comparison group. Participants were assessed at pretest and posttest (3 weeks later) using self-reported measures of body image, coping, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Independent samples t -tests compared group composition at pretest. Mixed between-within 2 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVAs examined pretest–posttest changes in the variables of interest. Results No differences were detected between groups at pretest. A significant interaction effect on body image, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and in self-efficacy competence subscale ( p < 0.05) was identified. Post hoc pairwise comparisons with the Bonferroni correction indicated improvement on these domains in the FPE group vs. comparison group. Additionally, significant main effects of time on self-efficacy total score and magnitude subscale ( p < 0.05) were found. Conclusions Preliminary results support the efficacy of FPE, but further research is needed. Implications for Cancer Survivors Existential approaches inclusive of self-portraits and illness narratives can be utilized to support BC survivors in the management of the psychological consequences of the illness.