Feasibility of Expressive Writing for Body Image Distress and Anxiety Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Young Adult Cancer; Body Image; Adolescent Cancer
• Interventions: Other: BI Focused writing; Other: Control

• Registration Number: NCT06046014
• Lead Sponsor: University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Brief Summary

Each year, about 89,500 adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 15-39 years old) are diagnosed with cancer and up to 60% experience body image (BI) distress. BI is largely developed in adolescence and young adulthood and has implications for self-identity and quality of life. Cancer itself and its associated treatments precipitate changes to appearance as well as body sensation and function, all of which can alter BI and lead to increased anxiety. An in-home BI-focused expressive writing (EW) program offers a promising outlet for addressing BI distress and anxiety in a way that eliminates constraints of clinical time and specialist availability.

There are no recommended interventions to help AYA cancer survivors cope with BI distress. To address this knowledge gap, the objective of this this pilot randomized-controlled trial is to determine the feasibility of a four-week BI-focused EW intervention to decrease BI distress and anxiety among AYA cancer survivors with the hypothesis that this intervention will reduce BI distress and anxiety.

Detailed Description

Protocol was updated to make the previous secondary outcome measures now exploratory

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-09-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-09-13
• Study First Posted: 2023-09-21
• Study Start: 2024-09-14
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-15
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-18
• Primary Completion: 2025-06
• Study Completion: 2025-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 15-39 years
• History of one or more cancer diagnoses with all treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) completed ≥ 3 months before enrollment)
• BIS ≥10 at time of screening
• Ability to provide consent or assent and parental consent if applicable.

Exclusion Criteria

• Plan to receive surgery, radiation, chemotherapy (including biologic agents, immunotherapy, and other targeted agents) for cancer treatment during the study period (from baseline assessment through post-four-week assessments and interview). Participants may continue with surveillance (such as imaging or biopsies) during the study period.
• Initiation of new treatments for body image distress or anxiety (e.g., pharmacologic, psychotherapy) ≤8 weeks prior to study enrollment. Although, participants may continue psychosocial or pharmacological treatments for anxiety or body image distress if the treatment were initiated at least eight weeks prior to study enrollment, the dose has not changed, and they report clinically relevant body image distress.
• History of limb-altering surgery or amputation (surgical exclusions are based on the premise that significant appearance-altering surgeries may impact body image distress differently than other cancer therapies)
• Currently receiving end-of-life care

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Expressive Writing (EW)	BI Focused writing	four- week, in- home, Body Image (BI)- focused EW intervention
Attention Control	Control	four- week control writing program

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Feasibility of in-home Body Image (BI) -focused expressive writing (EW) intervention for post-treatment adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors with BI distress (practicality)	7 months	75% of participants complete the baseline and four-week patient-reported measures
Feasibility of in-home Body Image (BI) -focused expressive writing (EW) intervention for post-treatment adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors with BI distress (recruitment)	7 months	percent of patients recruited within 6 months
Feasibility of in-home Body Image (BI) -focused expressive writing (EW) intervention for post-treatment adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors with BI distress (adherence)	7 months	percent of patients who complete the baseline and four week patient reported measures. 50% of participants complete 3 out of 4 (75%) of the at-home writing interventions.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center; 🇺🇸 Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States