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Coping with body image changes following a disfiguring burn injury
James A Fauerbach1, Leslie J Heinberg, John W Lawrence
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA. jfauerba@jhmi.edu
Summary
Using both venting emotions and mental disengagement coping strategies after a disfiguring injury, like burns, may worsen body image dissatisfaction and social impact long-term. This highlights the complex relationship between coping mechanisms and psychological distress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Disfiguring injuries, such as severe burns, can lead to significant psychological distress and body image dissatisfaction.
- Emotion-focused coping strategies are commonly employed by individuals to manage distress, but their specific impact following disfigurement is complex.
- Understanding the differential effects of various emotion-focused coping styles is crucial for effective patient support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the influence of specific emotion-focused coping strategies on distress following disfiguring injury.
- To investigate the association between baseline coping mechanisms and long-term body image dissatisfaction and social impact.
- To explore the utility of mental control theory and motivational analysis in understanding these associations.
Main Methods:
- Assessed two types of emotion-focused coping (venting emotions, mental disengagement) in 78 burn patients at baseline during hospitalization.
- Measured body image dissatisfaction (BID) at 1 week and 2 months post-discharge.
- Compared outcomes based on the use of one, both, or neither of the assessed coping methods.
Main Results:
- Baseline use of both venting emotions and mental disengagement was associated with significantly higher BID at 2-month follow-up.
- This combined coping strategy also correlated with a greater negative social impact of disfigurement.
- Individuals using only one or neither strategy did not exhibit the same level of increased BID or social impact.
Conclusions:
- Employing both venting emotions and mental disengagement concurrently as coping mechanisms may be detrimental for individuals with disfiguring injuries.
- These findings suggest that certain combinations of coping strategies can exacerbate negative psychological and social outcomes.
- Interventions should consider tailoring coping strategy guidance based on the type and combination of methods used by patients.