The impact of body image dissatisfaction on psychological distress and health‐related quality of life among patients in methadone treatment

Abstract

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesMinimal research has examined body image dissatisfaction (BID) among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). We tested associations between BID and MMT quality indicators (psychological distress, mental and physical health‐related quality of life [HRQoL]) and whether these associations varied by gender.MethodsOne hundred and sixty‐four participants (n = 164) in MMT completed self‐report measures of body mass index (BMI), BID, and MMT quality indicators. General linear models tested if BID was associated with MMT quality indicators.ResultsPatients were primarily non‐Hispanic White (56%) men (59%) with an average BMI in the overweight range. Approximately 30% of the sample had moderate or marked BID. Women and patients with a BMI in the obese range reported higher BID than men and patients with normal weight, respectively. BID was associated with higher psychological distress, lower physical HRQoL, and was unrelated to mental HRQoL. However, there was a significant interaction in which the association between BID and lower mental HRQoL was stronger for men than women.Discussion and ConclusionsModerate or marked BID is present for about three in 10 patients. These data also suggest that BID is tied to important MMT quality indicators, and that these associations can vary by gender. The long‐term course of MMT may allow for assessing and addressing novel factors influencing MMT outcomes, including BID.Scientific SignificanceThis is one of the first studies to examine BID among MMT patients, and it highlights MMT subgroups most at risk for BID and reduced MMT quality indicators due to BID.