HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA: AN EXAMINATION THROUGH PSYCHOSOCIAL VARIABLES

Date

2024-9-24

Author

Gökkaya, Berfin

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Studies on Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) have shown its impact on patients physically, psychologically, and socially. However, past research has not examined patients' experiences within a Biopsychosocial (BPS) model or focused on their relationships with close others. Our study explored the post-diagnosis experiences of HS patients in Türkiye, focusing on the psychosocial effects of the disease within the BPS model. We examined the relationships among the biological (disease severity), psychological (well-being and illness cognition as helplessness, acceptance and perceived benefits), and social (perceived stigmatization and relationships with close others, including mother, father, siblings, romantic partners, and female/male friends) components. We also investigated the impact of gender and romantic partner presence and provided the disease’s clinical presentation. Analysis of data from 70 participants revealed that HS patients experience similar levels of well-being, helplessness, acceptance, perceived benefits, and perceived stigmatization, with their various relationships with close others similarly affected regardless of disease severity. There were no significant differences between female and male patients across any variables. Having a romantic partner was positively associated with well-being. Greater acceptance, less helplessness, and good relationship with a partner was associated with higher positive affect. Negative affect was only linked to helplessness. Perceived stigmatization was positively correlated with helplessness and negatively correlated with relationships with fathers and female friends. Good relationships with female friends were associated with higher acceptance and perceived benefits. This study is the first quantitative-correlational research of its kind in Türkiye, offering a comprehensive understanding of the psychological and social effects of HS.

Subject Keywords

Hidradenitis Suppurativa, well-being, illness cognition, stigmatization, relationships

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/111312

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis