Abstract
The psychological impact of living with a skin condition can have a profound impact on quality of life and could cause appearance-related social anxiety. Existing research suggests ambiguous findings in relation to whether the impact of living with a skin condition differs between males and females. The present study aimed to explore the association between stigma, coping styles and social appearance anxiety in men and women living with a skin condition in the United Kingdom. 231 participants (n=199 females, n=30 males, n=2 non-binary) completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire, capturing quantitative data with the social appearance anxiety scale (SAAS), the shortened version of the coping inventory for stressful situations (CISS-21), and qualitative data from free-text comments and thematic content analysis. Respondents were also asked to provide additional free text comments in relation to the challenges faced and how these were managed. Content analysis revealed that males and females faced daily practical, social and emotional challenges and coped with them in several ways; with higher levels of social appearance anxiety associated with both higher perceived severity of skin condition and younger age. Males and females appeared equally as emotionally affected by living with a skin condition, with the only significant gender difference being females as significantly more likely to engage in avoidant coping behaviours than males. Living with a skin condition presents daily practical, social, and psychological challenges for males and females that have the potential to impact on quality of life. Findings highlight the need for dermatological care to routinely address these issues, and psychosocial interventions must be made available to promote healthy coping with skin conditions.
Highlights
IntroductionStigmatisation from having imperfect skin could result in people limiting their life experiences through feeling self‐conscious about their appearance,[10] and encountering challenges from finding ways of adjusting to living with a chronic illness combined with managing potentially negative reactions from others
The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the association between stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping strategies in males and females with skin conditions
Our findings differ from previous reports of females with atopic dermatitis and chronic dermatoses experiencing greater depression and anxiety symptoms,[8,22,23] stigma, and social appearance anxiety,[3] and there was little evidence for females experiencing psychiatric conditions and
Summary
Stigmatisation from having imperfect skin could result in people limiting their life experiences through feeling self‐conscious about their appearance,[10] and encountering challenges from finding ways of adjusting to living with a chronic illness combined with managing potentially negative reactions from others. Existing research suggests ambiguous findings in relation to whether the impact of living with a skin condition differs between males and females. Results: Content analysis revealed that males and females faced daily practical, social and emotional challenges and coped with them in several ways; with higher levels of social appearance anxiety associated with both higher perceived severity of skin condition and younger age. Conclusions: Living with a skin condition presents daily practical, social, and psychological challenges for males and females that have the potential to impact on quality of life.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
