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Living with vitiligo: dealing with difference
Andrew R Thompson1, Gerry Kent, Jonathan A Smith
1Department of Psychological Health Care, Barnsley Community & Priority Services NHS Trust, UK. ARThompson@eggconnect.net
British Journal of Health Psychology
|November 5, 2003
Summary
Living with vitiligo is a continuous struggle, requiring individuals to develop coping strategies. While acceptance is facilitated by social support, maintaining it remains a challenge for those with this disfiguring skin condition.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Dermatology
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Disfigurement can cause psychological distress, often unrelated to clinical severity.
- Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition with significant psychosocial impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experience of individuals with vitiligo.
- To understand the impact of vitiligo on daily life and coping mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
- Semi-structured interviews with seven female participants with vitiligo.
- Exploration of participants' reactions and coping strategies since disease onset.
Main Results:
- Participants initially felt overwhelmed but developed strategies to manage appearance differences.
- Behavioral strategies (avoidance, concealment) had drawbacks; cognitive strategies were difficult to sustain.
- Social support aided acceptance, but maintaining it was fragile.
Conclusions:
- Coping with vitiligo is an ongoing problem-solving process involving strategy development.
- Regaining equilibrium requires diverse coping mechanisms for chronic disease management.
- Further research is needed to compare experiences across different disfiguring conditions.