Personality Traits and Treatment Adherence Among Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Background and Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent, chronic, relapsing itchy skin disorder, affecting up to 20% of the pediatric population. Topical corticosteroids are the cornerstone of AD treatment, but their use is often limited due to topical corticosteroid phobia among parents. Research on chronic illnesses highlights the significant role of personality traits in treatment adherence, with emotional stability and conscientiousness-within the framework of the Five-Factor Model-emerging as key predictors. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between parental personality traits and their adherence to the treatment of their children with AD. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatovenereology, University Hospital of Split, involving 90 parents of children diagnosed with AD. Personality traits were evaluated using the abbreviated version of the International Personality Item Pool Big-Five Personality Questionnaire (IPIP 50s). Treatment adherence was assessed through a valid and reliable questionnaire, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Statistical analyses were performed using JASP v.0.18.1.0. Results: According to MMAS-8, only a small proportion of the sample reported having high adherence (14.4%). The only significant associations between personality traits and adherence were found between conscientiousness and adherence and emotional stability and adherence, where more conscientious participants and more emotionally stable participants reported higher scores. Conclusions: The results suggest that parents of children with AD with higher scores on conscientiousness and emotional stability are more likely to demonstrate better treatment adherence. These insights may encourage a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of children with AD, with an emphasis on providing psychological support to both the children and their parents in order to improve treatment adherence and the further clinical course of the disease.