Attaching attachment to dermatology

Aragonés, Lucía Tomás

doi:10.1111/bjd.16649

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…A number of large‐scale studies with adults with chronic dermatological conditions have indicated an association between attachment style (Tomas‐Aragones, 2018) and a range of illness variables such as stress (Szabó et al, 2017) and appearance‐related distress (Krasuska et al, 2018). Picardi et al (2005) reported a significantly increased rate of insecure‐avoidant attachment style in adults with psoriasis, which was associated with lower social support and lower emotional self‐awareness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attachment style and children and young people with chronic dermatological conditions

Soon,

Shipton,

Wray

et al. 2023

Child

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BackgroundDermatological conditions are common in childhood and, in their more severe forms, can cause pain, disability and social marginalisation. Despite attachment being a known factor contributing to psychological and physiological development in childhood and several adult studies showing associations between attachment and dermatology outcomes (Tomas‐Aragones, 2018), attachment in young dermatology patients has not been investigated.ObjectivesThis study examined if (1) 8–16‐year‐olds with chronic dermatological conditions were more likely to show attachment insecurity than general population peers; (2) attachment style was linked to psychological functioning; and (3) facial involvement was associated with attachment insecurity.MethodOne hundred and twenty‐two 8–16‐year‐olds attending a specialist paediatric dermatological service were compared on the Child Attachment Interview (CAI) to general population data. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to measure psychosocial functioning.ResultsThe dermatology group was significantly more likely to be insecurely attached than their general population peers (χ2[1] = 4.76, p < .05). The secure group self‐reported significantly better psychological functioning on all indices compared with the insecure group (Total Difficulties: F[1,89] = 15.30, p < .001). There were no significant differences between secure and insecure groups on parent‐reported psychological measures (Total Difficulties: F[1,94] = 0.67, p = .42). Children with facial involvement were not significantly more likely to be insecurely attached.ConclusionsIncreased risk of attachment insecurity, particularly in the anxious pre‐occupied category, as well as an association between attachment and psychosocial functioning resonated with adult studies suggesting that further research about the role of attachment with young dermatology patients is warranted.

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