The statistical sample showed that the stigmatization of the skin disease caused somatic symptoms of depression in its carriers.
Researchers from the University of Limerick, Ireland, conducted a survey among people suffering from a condition known as acne (aka acne). Subsequent analysis of the survey showed a correlation between feelings of stigma and negative somatic effects of depression. The work was published in the PLOS One magazine.
The survey involved 271 people, of whom 190 were women. Their ages ranged from 18 to 51 years old. The respondents were asked to describe the intensity of acne, the location, their own assessment, and whether they feel any pressure from the community and whether they have somatic symptoms of stress. The results were processed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
The researchers noted that those people who felt significant pressure from society reported more serious manifestations of depression. The list includes: insomnia, headaches and frequent colds. Moreover, among women, they manifested themselves more often than among men.
Dr. Aisling O'Donnell, who oversaw the study, described how the results compare with previous work:
“In early publications we saw that people with physical differences can be uncomfortable due to social attitudes, but now we have shown that public opinion can directly affect people's quality of life and their physical condition.”
According to the authors, the popularity of selfies can only exacerbate this effect. They believe that it can be corrected by social campaigns aimed at destigmatizing the phenomenon on social networks.
Scientists have previously found that the acne-causing subcutaneous mite Demodex folliculorum appears to be hereditary, evolving with the host over millions of years.
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Alexey Evglevsky