title: Body image and noticeable self-inflicted scars.
abstract: Scars from burn injuries have a negative influence on body image. Patients with borderline symptoms with nonsuicidal self-injuries (NSSIs), which often result in scars, report body image disturbances. We study whether the origin and characteristics of scars are associated with body image. Altogether, 125 female participants (n = 65 with NSSI) filled in multidimensional body image questionnaires. The participants with NSSI reported a significantly more negative body image on most subscales compared with the participants with scars of other origins. This result remained significant after partialling out scar characteristics from regression equations. On a scale assessing body image after injuries, a significant correlation with origin of scars was found after additionally partialling out body mass index and borderline symptoms. These results indicate that self-inflicted scars may adversely affect body image. Addressing NSSI, which is relevant in a multitude of disorders, early in treatment might help to reduce the extent of scarification and therefore reduce the disturbance of body image.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, and †Otto-Selz-Institut, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hennrich
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borgmann
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Georg W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Alpers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult