Self‑perceived muscular strength and its correlation with physical, mental, and emotional health status in long‑term breast cancer survivors: a cross‑sectional study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between different levels of self-perceived muscular strength and health status among long-term breast cancer survivors (LTBCSs), as well as to determine the factors that predict selfperceived muscular strength during this phase of long-term survivorship. Good/very good levels of self-perceived muscular strength were observed in just 30% of LTBCSs. Those with lower self-perceived muscular strength exhibited more significant physical, mental, and emotional decline ≥ 5 years postdiagnosis. The combination of “general physical fitness,” “cardiorespiratory endurance,” “global health status,” and “breast symptoms” accounts for 57.3% of the variance in self-perceived muscular strength levels among LTBCSs.