Emotional-informational support and post-traumatic growth in skin disorders

Psychophysiological skin disorders' high prevalence necessitates establishing factors that enable the development of personal strength, self-esteem and receiving adequate support.

To investigate the relationship between self-esteem and post-traumatic growth (PTG), as well as whether aspects of perceived social support moderate or mediate the relationship between self-esteem and PTG in participants living with psychophysiological skin disorders.

The study was conducted in South Africa.

Quantitative, non-experimental, and correlational research design was utilised. 100 participants diagnosed with psychophysiological skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, pruritus, and alopecia, were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method. The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.

Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed to investigate the research objectives. A significant positive relationship was found in participants between self-esteem and PTG, with coefficients indicating a moderate to large effect size. As an aspect of perceived social support, emotional-informational support acts as a moderator between self-esteem and PTG. Further, tangible support as an aspect of perceived social support was found not to moderate or mediate the relationship between self-esteem and PTG.

The findings of the current study confirm that only emotional-informational support as an aspect of perceived social support moderates the relationship between self-esteem and PTG among participants living with psychophysiological skin disorders.

This insight highlights the need for psychosocial interventions that prioritise emotional and informational support dimensions.