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Journal article
Evaluation of Stigma Toward Individuals With Acne
JAMA dermatology (Chicago, Ill.), v 160(1), pp 93-98
01 Jan 2024
PMID: 38055249
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Little is known about the prevalence and magnitude of stigmatizing attitudes of the general public toward individuals with acne.
To explore the degree of stigma toward individuals with acne and whether these attitudes vary based on characteristics of the individuals with acne or of the survey participants.
In this cross-sectional internet survey study, 4 stock portraits of adults that varied in sex (male/female) and skin tone (light/dark) were digitally enhanced to have acne (mild/severe). One of these 12 images was randomly presented to survey participants, who subsequently answered questions regarding stigmatizing attitudes with respect to the pictured individual, such as desire for social distance and stereotype endorsement. The survey was administered to a convenience sample of adult respondents in the US who were volunteers on the ResearchMatch platform.
Prevalence and magnitude of stigma toward individuals with acne.
The survey was completed by 1357 respondents (65.7% completion rate) (mean [SD] age, 42.4 [14.3] years; 918 [67.7%] female, 439 [32.4%] male). Compared to those with no acne, for those with severe acne, participants reported less comfort being friends (adjusted coefficient [95% CI], -0.28 [-0.47 to -0.10]; P = .003), hiring (-0.33 [-0.51 to -0.15]; P < .001), having physical contact (-0.26 [-0.45 to -0.08]; P = .006), dating (-0.44 [-0.74 to -0.14]; P = .004), and posting a photograph together on social media (-0.50 [-0.70 to -0.30]; P < .001). Compared to those with no acne, participants were more likely to rate individuals with severe acne as having poor hygiene (adjusted coefficient [95% CI], -1.04 [-1.46 to -0.82]; P < .001) and being unattractive (-0.89 [-1.12 to -0.67]; P < .001), unintelligent (-0.42 [-0.63 to -0.22]; P < .001), unlikable (-0.36 [-0.56 to -0.15]; P < .001), immature (-0.52 [-0.74 to -0.30]; P < .001), and untrustworthy (-0.40 [-0.61 to -0.18]; P < .001). There was evidence that the effect size of the association of acne with desire to social distance was greater for individuals with dark skin.
This survey study demonstrates that stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with acne existed across a variety of social and professional scenarios, with severe acne and acne in darker skin tone being associated with a greater degree of stigma. These findings highlight the need to identify approaches to reduce stigmatizing attitudes in the community and for adequate access to care, which might prevent negative downstream effects related to these stigmatizing attitudes.
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Details
- Title
- Evaluation of Stigma Toward Individuals With Acne
- Creators
- Ali Shields - Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MassachusettsMichael R Nock - Yale UniversitySophia Ly - Brigham and Women's HospitalPriya Manjaly - Boston UniversityArash Mostaghimi - Harvard UniversityJohn S Barbieri - Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Publication Details
- JAMA dermatology (Chicago, Ill.), v 160(1), pp 93-98
- Publisher
- JAMA Network
- Grant note
- K23 AR078930 / NIAMS NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001117059800005
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85181001190
- Other Identifier
- 991021861305404721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Dermatology