Coping styles in patients with hypospadias

The objective of this study is to investigate the coping styles used by patients with hypospadias. Long-term hypospadias studies generally show satisfying outcomes, but some report a lower quality of life (QoL) or poorer psychosocial adjustment, particularly in patients with proximal hypospadias. A lower QoL or psychosocial adjustment was found to be associated with passive coping styles in other pediatric patient populations. Hypothetically, patients with hypospadias also develop different coping styles due to medical experiences in childhood, leading to the lower QoL outcomes on the long term. However, coping styles of patients with hypospadias have never been analyzed.

Adult men with hypospadias repair in childhood were recruited (n = 55; aged 19.9 [IQR 19.2-22.1]). Coping styles were determined with the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) and results compared with a reference group of male students (n = 55, age 20-30 years, no medical history). Sub analysis of coping styles of the hypospadias groups was done based on three items: severity of hypospadias, time of last hypospadias surgery and occurrence of postoperative complications.

Compared to the reference groups, patients with hypospadias had higher scores on Avoidance (P < 0.05), particularly patients who had ≥1 postoperative complication or proximal hypospadias. Patients with proximal hypospadias also had lower scores on Seeking Social Support compared to the reference group (P < 0.05). Within the hypospadias group, coping style scores did not differ based on severity of hypospadias, timing of surgery or postoperative complications.

Patients with hypospadias, particularly those with proximal hypospadias or a postoperative complication, more often use an avoiding coping style compared to a reference population. Attention to coping styles during the follow-up of patients with hypospadias might help to improve the QoL in these patients.