Stoma Acceptance Mediates Body Image Distress and Mental Health-Related Quality of Life: A Single-Center Study on Radical Cystectomy Patients with Ureterostomy

Background: Muscle-invasive bladder cancer and subsequent radical cystectomy with ureterocutaneostomy significantly impact patients’ body image and quality of life, potentially increasing the risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Acceptance may represent a psychosocial resource to buffer the effects of body image impairment on health, thereby supporting stoma adjustment and preserving quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of stoma acceptance in the relationship between body image distress and mental health. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional survey was conducted with 73 muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy with ureterocutaneostomy. Participants completed structured, anonymous self-report measures assessing body image distress, stoma acceptance, and mental health-related quality of life through validated questionnaires. Results: Statistical analyses revealed significant negative correlations between body image distress and mental health and stoma acceptance. Conversely, stoma acceptance was significantly and positively associated with mental health. Regression-based mediation modeling indicated that stoma acceptance exerted a significant mediating effect on the relationship between body image and mental health-related quality of life. Conclusions: These findings highlight the considerable and unprecedented role of stoma acceptance as a mediating factor that may promote the adjustment and enhance the quality of life of urostomy patients. Further research is warranted to explore interventions targeting stoma acceptance to prevent body image distress and promote mental health.