A new study published in The Journal of Turkish Family Physician provides evidence that breast size and marital status may be related to a woman’s self-esteem. However, the findings did not suggest a strong connection between breast size and how women felt about their bodies more generally. These results suggest that specific physical and social characteristics may play a role in shaping psychological well-being.
The research was grounded in the understanding that the breast holds both physical and symbolic significance for many women. Beyond its biological role, the breast is often associated with femininity, sexuality, attractiveness, and motherhood. Changes in breast size and shape can occur naturally due to factors like aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. Illnesses involving the breast, such as cancer, are known to affect not only physical health but also emotional well-being and self-identity.
While some earlier studies have looked into women’s satisfaction with their breast size, few have used objective measurements to explore how breast volume might relate to psychological factors like self-esteem or body image. The researchers behind this study aimed to fill that gap by using a physical measurement tool to calculate breast volume and by examining how this related to women’s self-perceptions.
“Our motivation for conducting this study stems from the fact that the breast, as a female-specific organ, symbolizes both motherhood and sexuality, giving it significant importance. While literature reviews reveal numerous studies on body image and self-esteem in women (mostly among breast cancer patients), research examining the relationship between breast volume and these psychological characteristics in healthy women is very limited,” said study author Yasemin Alagöz of Sivas Numune Hospital.
“Moreover, although breast size is often emphasized in cultural ideals of beauty, its psychological effects have been scientifically underexplored—another key motivation for our work. Our aim was to fill this gap by objectively investigating the relationship between breast volume, self-esteem, and body perception in women.”
The researchers carried out a cross-sectional study involving 343 women aged 18 and above. These participants were patients or accompanying relatives who visited a breast outpatient clinic or a cancer screening center in Türkiye. All participants were free of major illnesses or psychiatric diagnoses and had not undergone breast-related surgery.
Each woman’s height, weight, and body mass index were measured. Breast volume was assessed using the Grossman-Roudner Disk, a device that estimates breast size based on physical dimensions. Women were then asked to complete two psychological assessments through face-to-face interviews: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, which measures self-worth, and the Body Cathexis Scale, which evaluates satisfaction with various body parts including the breasts. Sociodemographic information was also collected.
The average age of participants was just over 41 years. Most of the women were married and had given birth. The average breast volume was about 368 cubic centimeters. Based on established thresholds, the researchers divided participants into three groups: those with small breasts (under 275 cm³), normal-sized breasts (275–375 cm³), and large breasts (over 375 cm³, referred to as macromastia).
Women in the large breast volume group scored higher on the self-esteem scale compared to those with average-sized breasts. The difference between the average and large groups was statistically significant, while differences between small and other groups were not.
“Although our study does not directly explain this result, culturally, larger breasts may be associated with greater femininity,” Alagöz told PsyPost. “This could relate to perceptions of being more attractive or more effective in breastfeeding. Ultimately, women’s self-perceptions are shaped not only by individual thoughts but also by social and cultural expectations.”
“The impact of breast size on self-esteem is not large but is statistically significant. In other words, while breast size is an important factor, self-esteem and body perception are shaped by the interaction of many different factors.”
The study also found that marital status was associated with self-esteem. Married women had significantly higher self-esteem scores than single women. This pattern was not observed when looking at body image satisfaction. In other words, being married was related to higher self-worth, but not necessarily to more positive feelings about the body.
When it came to body image more broadly, the researchers did not find a meaningful connection between breast size and scores on the Body Cathexis Scale. Across the full sample, 70 percent of women said they liked or strongly liked their breasts. This relatively high rate of satisfaction may reflect cultural or demographic characteristics specific to the study group.
“It was notable that participants’ satisfaction with their breasts was higher than what has been reported in many studies in the literature,” Alagöz said.
Other factors were also explored. Breast volume tended to increase with age, higher body mass index, longer breastfeeding duration, and earlier age at first childbirth. These relationships are consistent with previous research showing that breast size is shaped by both biological and lifestyle factors. However, the study did not find significant connections between breast size and menstrual history or menopausal status.
While the findings offer insight into how physical and social characteristics might relate to psychological well-being, the study does have limitations. The participants were predominantly married women who had children, which could affect the generalizability of the results. Breast size and body image may be perceived differently among women who are younger, single, or have not had children.
“This study does not claim that breast size determines self-worth,” Alagöz noted. “Psychological well-being is shaped by the interaction of many factors. Our aim was not to reinforce stereotypes but to address a topic that has been underexplored. Additionally, participants in our study spanned a wide age range, including unmarried and nulliparous women, which highlights that factors such as childbirth and breastfeeding may also influence breast size.”
The researchers suggest that future studies could focus on more homogeneous groups, such as women who have never given birth or those in specific age brackets. It may also be useful to explore cultural differences in how breast size and body image are perceived, given that ideals of femininity and beauty can vary widely across societies.
“Future studies could focus on more homogeneous groups, such as no partner or nulliparous women. This would allow a clearer examination of the psychological effects of breast volume,” Alagöz said. “We hope this research contributes to a better understanding of women’s mental health. Our goal is to support individuals in accepting their bodies without harmful comparisons.”
The study, “The psychological correlates of breast volume in women: Implications for self-esteem and body perception,” was authored by Yasemin Alagöz, Mehmet Ali Eryılmaz, Fatma Gökşin Cihan, and Ruhuşen Kutlu.
