The marked body
Exploring experiences of post-mastectomy scarring, body image and change through artistic tattooing
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4226636 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tina-Maree Newlan (0009-0001-0607-8293, Charles Sturt University—Bathurst Campus, Australia), Jenni Greig (0000-0002-6262-0972, Charles Sturt University—Bathurst Campus, Australia) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 382-395 |
| Publication date | 2024-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Health Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1359-1053 • E-ISSN: 1461-7277 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/13591053231215050 |
| PMID | 38102733 |
| OpenAlex | W4389836948 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 28 |
Breast cancer has become the most prevalent cancer globally, predominantly affecting women, with mastectomy surgery a frequent treatment. Women often experience a discrepancy between their post-mastectomy body, and their former sense of self, affecting negatively on wellbeing. The narratives of eight women who chose to artistically tattoo over their mastectomy scars were explored in this study, through semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Seven master themes are presented. These themes follow the women from a state of disruption (of body image and gender identity) and surgical scarring as the first marking of the body, to the second marking of the body through artistic tattooing, bringing with it transformation, acceptance, feeling heard and connection with the artist, closure and control and the creation of significance and meaning. Viewed through Self-Discrepancy Theory, the findings of this study has implications for psycho-oncology and wellbeing support for women following mastectomy surgery
Aesthetics · Art · Breast cancer · Cancer · Disfigurement · Feeling · Identity (music · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Literature · Mastectomy · Meaning (existential · Narrative · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications · Visual Culture and Art Theory · Social Psychology · Surgery
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |