Original scientific paper
Multivariate analysis of control variables in clinical assessment of body image
Renata Martinec
; Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Miroslav Prstačić
; Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Branko Nikolić
; Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
Body image as a clinical entity is an exceptionally complex issue. This topic has been the subject of a number of contemporary scientific and clinical research studies, conducted by authors from various disciplines in the field of biomedical, humanistic and other sciences, as well as in the field of rehabilitation sciences. In such research studies the authors apply different theoretical and intertheoretical approaches to the study of factors affecting the development of body image experience in a person. Within that framework, a systematic analysis of scientific papers published in fifteen relevant scientific journals worldwide has been presented in this paper. It comprises a sample of 158 scientific papers, classified in the research procedure into three subsamples: a) general baselines in diagnostics, therapy and evaluation of body image experience; b) body image experience in breast cancer patients; and c) an analysis of keywords with special emphasis on the terms breast cancer and body image. An analysis of original data for control variables has been conducted with application of canonical covariance analysis. Normality of frequency distributions was tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Basic statistical parameters were computed in all qualitative variables. Obtained results have shown a wide range of problem fields the author focussed on, as well as different concepts of research applied therein. Based on the obtained results, a need was identified to develop new systematic multidimensional and interdisciplinary approaches in diagnostic, therapeutical, educational and rehabilitational approaches. The presented results arise from the scientific research project “Complementary Supportive Therapies and Development of Life Potentials”, conducted with the support of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia.
Keywords
body image; interdisciplinarity; comparative analysis; scientifi c and clinical research studies
Hrčak ID:
52009
URI
Publication date:
15.3.2009.
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