Investigation of body image, self‐esteem, and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence

AIM: The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of urinary incontinence on body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. METHODS: The study was conducted with 218 women with urinary incontinence. The study data were collected using the Socio-Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Body Cathexis Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: There was a weak, statistically significant, positive relationship found between the Body Cathexis Scale total average scores and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale total average scores of the women and a weak, statistically significant, negative relationship with the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire total average scores. In addition, a weak, statistically significant, negative relationship was found between the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale total score averages and Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire total score averages. Significant effects were seen for body image score with pad usage; for self-esteem in relation to number of deliveries, duration, and frequency of urinary incontinence; and for incontinence quality of life and duration and frequency of urinary incontinence and pad usage. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that most of the women with urinary incontinence had negative body image and that more than half of them had moderate or low self-esteem and a moderate quality of life.