The influence of optimism, social support and anxiety on aggression in a sample of dermatology patients: an analysis of cross-sectional data

Abstract

Summary Background Individuals with visible skin conditions often experience stigmatization and discrimination. This may trigger maladaptive responses such as feelings of anger and hostility, with negative consequences to social interactions and relationships. Objective To identify psychosocial factors contributing to aggression levels in dermatology patients. Methods Data were obtained from 91 participants recruited from outpatient clinics in the north of England, U.K. This study used dermatology‐specific data extracted from a large U.K. database of medical conditions collected by The Appearance Research Collaboration. This study looked at the impact of optimism, perceptions of social support and social acceptance, fear of negative evaluation, appearance concern, appearance discrepancy, social comparison and well‐being on aggression levels in a sample of dermatology patients. Results In order to assess the relationship between variables, a hierarchical regression analysis was performed. Dispositional style (optimism) was shown to have a strong negative relationship with aggression (β = −0·37, t = −2·97, P = 0·004). Higher levels of perceived social support were significantly associated with lower levels of aggression (β = −0·26, t = −2·26, P = 0·02). Anxiety was also found to have a significant positive relationship with aggression (β = 0·36, t = 2·56, P = 0·01). Conclusions This study provides evidence for the importance of perceived social support and optimism in psychological adjustment to skin conditions. Psychosocial interventions provided to dermatology patients might need to address aggression levels and seek to enhance social support and the ability to be optimistic.

Podendo ser si-mesmo: experiências de adolescentes com doenças crônicas de pele em acampamento

“…To escape situations of social discrimination, adolescents can assume a way of being that best meets the demands of life in society, as a defense mechanism, hiding many aspects, sometimes essential, of their own beings. 6,21,22 Adolescents who need special health care followed up in a tertiary outpatient clinic in the South region revealed the need to live adolescence naturally, 4 as well as the adolescents participating in this study.…”

“…It is in this context that self-concept and self-esteem are developed, since feeling similar to their peers is of paramount importance to adolescents. 21,22 By repeating their participation in the camp and over time, campers usually develop healthier ways to face and deal with themselves, their conditions and the world, becoming themselves an example, inspiration and reference to the youngest. 9 Influencing young people in a positive way becomes a personal mission, increasing their responsibility and commitment to themselves, their health and their daily duties.…”

“…7,13 Such a posture makes it difficult for these people to be affected by social stigma. 22 From this new way of experiencing the everyday world, adolescents are able to reflect on the future. Participants express the desire to continue participating in the activities of the NGO D and to share the experience with their peers, which indicates that the experience is pleasant and recognized as beneficial, corroborating with studies that show that the repetition of the experience at the camp, markedly four to five participations, enhances its beneficial effects on various aspects of the participants' development and life.…”

Aggression and its associations in patients with skin disease

“…In this issue of the BJD , Coneo et al . provide a further piece in the complex mosaic of psychodermatology . In a cross‐sectional study they recruited 91 dermatology outpatient clinic patients and explored these patients’ psychological functioning within a theoretical model of appearance concern.…”

“…Coneo et al . examined the associations of their outcome factor, a measure of aggression, with optimism, social support, social acceptance, social anxiety, appearance‐related concerns, depression and anxiety . In their analysis, aggression was found to be significantly associated with lower levels of optimism and lower satisfaction with social support, and with anxiety.…”