title: Social desirability, psychological symptoms, and perceived health in burn injured patients.
abstract: Social desirability was previously seen as a nuisance in assessment, but today it is regarded as a personality trait with an influence on health. The aim was to explore relations between social desirability and health in former burn patients. Eighty-four burn patients injured on average 3.8 years ago responded to a questionnaire booklet. Social desirability was assessed with the social desirability subscale of the Swedish universities Scales of Personality, which is standardized in a normative sample. The results showed that a subgroup with high degree of social desirability displayed significantly poorer perceived health on the burn-specific health subscales heat sensitivity, work, and body image than normal responders did. There were no differences regarding age, education, injury-related variables, sick leave, or symptoms of anxiety and depression. In conclusion, participants with high social desirability were characterized by postburn problems in outdoor and work-related situations, and more self-consciousness about appearance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mimmie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willebrand
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wikehult
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ekselius
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012919:Social Behavior; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires