Spencer L1, McKenna L1, Fary R1, Jacques A1, Lalor J1, Briffa K1
1Curtin University, School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Perth, Australia
Background: Despite anecdotal reports that larger breasts carry negative consequences for health and wellbeing, little research has been conducted in women who are not pursuing reduction mammoplasty surgery. Previous research indicates that older women may experience physical changes in their breasts, including an increase in breast size, following menopause. The burden of large breasts on women after the age of 40-years has not been well established.
Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to examine the psychosocial and physical burden of large breasts in women aged over 40-years.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Self-report data were collected from healthy women aged over 40-years. Data collected included: participant characteristics including breast size (bra size); upper back pain (UBP) status; UBP severity (Numerical Rating Scale); quality of life (SF-36); breast satisfaction (BREAST-Q); breast-related physiological wellbeing (BREAST-Q); breast-related psychological wellbeing (BREAST-Q); and physical activity levels (Human Activity Profile). Participants were organised into three groups based on their breast size (small, medium or large). Univariate ANOVA assessed between group differences. The effect of BMI, as a possible covariate, was examined using ANCOVA. Correlation analysis examined the strength and direction of the relationships between each variable and breast size, age and BMI respectively. Binary logistic regression assessed the relationship between breast size and UBP.
Results: 269 women with small (13%), medium (50%) and large (37%) breasts participated in the study. Independent of body mass index, women with large breasts had significantly higher severities of UBP (Mean Difference (MD) 1.27 points (95%CI: 0.23-2.31) and significantly lower levels of physiological wellbeing (MD: 13.97 points, 95%CI: 8.87-19.07; body satisfaction (MD: 3.38 points, 95%CI: 2.57-4.18); and breast satisfaction (MD: 13.97 points, 95%CI: 11.21-23.70) compared to women with small breasts. Larger breast size was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing UBP (OR: 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.21). BMI was an important covariate determining quality of life and physical activity levels.
Conclusion(s): The findings of this study indicate that larger breast size carries negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of women aged over 40-years. Independent of its association with BMI, breast size is significantly associated with a range of psychosocial characteristics and UBP which could have wider implications for their general health. Having identified that large breast size is a health burden amongst women aged over 40-years; further research might test the efficacy of appropriately targeted biopsychosocial strategies to address the factors that have been shown to be associated with this burden.
Implications: This research highlights the importance of breast size to a woman in her mature years and exemplifies the potential role that breasts have in determining aspects of self-perception, wellbeing and UBP. Clinicians are encouraged to assess and consider the burden of breast size of women aged over 40-years, in their clinical practice.
Keywords: Breast size, upper back pain, mature women
Funding acknowledgements: Primary researcher supported by funding from an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and Curtin University Research Scholarship.
Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to examine the psychosocial and physical burden of large breasts in women aged over 40-years.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Self-report data were collected from healthy women aged over 40-years. Data collected included: participant characteristics including breast size (bra size); upper back pain (UBP) status; UBP severity (Numerical Rating Scale); quality of life (SF-36); breast satisfaction (BREAST-Q); breast-related physiological wellbeing (BREAST-Q); breast-related psychological wellbeing (BREAST-Q); and physical activity levels (Human Activity Profile). Participants were organised into three groups based on their breast size (small, medium or large). Univariate ANOVA assessed between group differences. The effect of BMI, as a possible covariate, was examined using ANCOVA. Correlation analysis examined the strength and direction of the relationships between each variable and breast size, age and BMI respectively. Binary logistic regression assessed the relationship between breast size and UBP.
Results: 269 women with small (13%), medium (50%) and large (37%) breasts participated in the study. Independent of body mass index, women with large breasts had significantly higher severities of UBP (Mean Difference (MD) 1.27 points (95%CI: 0.23-2.31) and significantly lower levels of physiological wellbeing (MD: 13.97 points, 95%CI: 8.87-19.07; body satisfaction (MD: 3.38 points, 95%CI: 2.57-4.18); and breast satisfaction (MD: 13.97 points, 95%CI: 11.21-23.70) compared to women with small breasts. Larger breast size was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing UBP (OR: 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.21). BMI was an important covariate determining quality of life and physical activity levels.
Conclusion(s): The findings of this study indicate that larger breast size carries negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of women aged over 40-years. Independent of its association with BMI, breast size is significantly associated with a range of psychosocial characteristics and UBP which could have wider implications for their general health. Having identified that large breast size is a health burden amongst women aged over 40-years; further research might test the efficacy of appropriately targeted biopsychosocial strategies to address the factors that have been shown to be associated with this burden.
Implications: This research highlights the importance of breast size to a woman in her mature years and exemplifies the potential role that breasts have in determining aspects of self-perception, wellbeing and UBP. Clinicians are encouraged to assess and consider the burden of breast size of women aged over 40-years, in their clinical practice.
Keywords: Breast size, upper back pain, mature women
Funding acknowledgements: Primary researcher supported by funding from an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and Curtin University Research Scholarship.
Topic: Older people; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Curtin University
Ethics committee: Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: RDHS-267-15
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
