Relationship between self-esteem and stigmatization in psoriasis patients

Barbara Jankowiak; Beata Kowalewska; Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak; Dmitry F. Khvorik; Wiaczesław Niczyporuk

doi:10.5114/ada.2020.93242

eISSN: 2299-0046
ISSN: 1642-395X

Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii

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4/2020
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abstract:

Original paper

Relationship between self-esteem and stigmatization in psoriasis patients

Barbara Jankowiak

¹

,

Beata Kowalewska

¹

,

Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak

¹

,

Dmitry F. Khvorik

²

,

Wiaczesław Niczyporuk

³

Department of Integrated Medical Care, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
Department of Dermatovenerology, Medical University, Grodno, Belarus
Faculty of Health Sciences, Lomza State University of Applied Sciences, Lomza, Poland

Adv Dermatol Allergol 2020; XXXVII (4): 597-602

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2020.93242

Online publish date: 2020/02/19

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Introduction. Psoriasis is classified as a psychosomatic disease, since its development and outcome may be modulated by various psychological factors. Due to the presence of clinical signs visible to others and poor social awareness of the disease, psoriasis patients are not infrequently classified as different or stigmatized, and their value as human beings tends to decrease.

Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze a relationship between self-esteem and stigmatization in psoriasis patients.

Material and methods. The study included 120 patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

The study participants completed Polish versions of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the 6-Item Stigmatization Scale developed by Evers et al., as well as an original survey containing questions about their sociodemographic characteristics.

Results. Mean RSES score of the study participants was 24.1 points. Mean RSES score for female patients was nearly 2 points lower than the mean score for men. Analysis of Spearman’s rho coefficients showed that the higher the self-esteem in the study participants the less often they considered themselves unattractive to others (0,23), less often believed that people gaze at their skin lesions (0,23) or avoid them because of their condition (0,38).

Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate clearly that both self-esteem and stigmatization are significant components of psoriasis’ influence on patient life. Psoriasis should not be considered merely as a somatic problem, but also as a significant psychological and social burden.

keywords:

Relationship between self-esteem and stigmatization in psoriasis patients

Barbara Jankowiak 1 , Beata Kowalewska 1 , Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak 1 , Dmitry F. Khvorik 2 , Wiaczesław Niczyporuk 3

psoriasis, stigmatization, self-esteem

Barbara Jankowiak

¹

,

Beata Kowalewska

¹

,

Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak

¹

,

Dmitry F. Khvorik

²

,

Wiaczesław Niczyporuk

³