Comparison of the psychosocial impact of acne in adolescents and adults; body satisfaction, self-esteem, and quality of life.

BACKGROUND

Dermatological diseases, including acne vulgaris, have significant psychosocial effects on patients.

AIMS

To compare body satisfaction, self-esteem, and quality of life (QoL) in adolescents and adults with acne.

METHODS

A total of 192 acne patients (132 female, 60 male; aged 19.42 ± 3.50 years) were included in the study. Global Acne Grading System, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Turkish Acne Quality of Life Index (TAQoLI), and Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) were used. The patients were divided into two groups: under 20 years old (adolescents) and 20 years and above (adults).

RESULTS

The mean RSES score was found as 19.49 ± 5.11, the mean BCS score was 143.95 ± 20.92 and the mean TAQoLI score was 23.44 ± 10.02. There was no difference between adolescents and adults in terms of the mean value of the RSES score, TAQoLI score, and BCS score (p > 0.05). But, the proportion of those whose RSES score is below 15 is higher in patients under 20 years of age (28%) than patients aged 20 and over (14%) (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed that the most important determinant of body satisfaction was self-esteem (β = 0.287, p < 0.05), the most important determinants of self-esteem were body satisfaction (β = 0.208, p < 0.05), QoL (β = -0.398, p < 0.001), and education level (β = 0.245, p = 0.007) and, one of the most important determinant of QoL was self-esteem (β = -0.403, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that acne vulgaris negatively affects an individual's body satisfaction, self-esteem, and QoL. The psychosocial burden of acne is as significant for adults as for adolescents. Body satisfaction, self-esteem, and QoL are in interaction with each other.