Psoriasis and Stress Coping Strategies’ Influence on Self-Esteem, Illness Acceptance, and Life Satisfaction

A study published in Dermatology and Therapy found that psoriasis and stress coping strategies influence affected patients deeper than previously thought, as it impacts self-esteem, how easily patients accept their fate when having an illness, and how satisfied they are with their life.

The overall psychophysical condition is negatively impacted by various factors.

“The visibility of skin lesions is a significant burden for patients with psoriasis, who experience social hostility as well as many emotional and psychological problems. The recurrent nature of cutaneous manifestations and their location are also a source of emotional distress, which in turn is one of the main factors that intensifies skin lesions in these patients.”

This study used self-reporting methods to gather information from 111 total participants, including: 

• a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI);
• four standardized general psychometric tools; and
• a demographic questionnaire.

The mentioned standardized psychometric tools include the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS).

The mean PASI score recorded was 14 (12.1-15.9). Lower illness acceptance among men (r=0.48) and lower self-esteem among women (r=0.44) were associated with higher PASI scores. Life satisfaction level was lower in respondents with higher PASI scores (mainly in the group of women, r=0.44).

The mean SWLS score was below average—18.5 (17.3-19.7). Meanwhile the SES score—26.8 points (26.1-27.5)— indicated self-esteem slightly above average among patients with psoriasis. The CISS mean level of stress-coping measured was 53.6 (51.9-55.2) for the task-oriented strategy (TOS), 46.2 (43.8-48.6) for the emotion-oriented strategy (EOS) and 50.1 (48.5-51.8) for the avoidance-oriented strategy (AOS).

“Higher severity of psoriasis (PASI) and greater frequency of emotion-oriented stress-coping mechanisms (CISS) are factors that negatively affect the overall psychophysical condition of respondents,” the researchers concluded.

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Reference
Kowalewska B, Krajewska-Kułak E, Sobolewski M. The impact of stress-coping strategies and the severity of psoriasis on self-esteem, illness acceptance and life satisfaction. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). Published online January 18, 2022. doi: 10.1007/s13555-021-00669-8.