title: Predictors of perceived stigmatization in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physical appearance of psoriasis can be cosmetically disfiguring, resulting in a substantial social burden for patients. An important aspect of this burden is the experience of stigmatization. While stigmatization is known to be disabling and stressful for patients, little is known about its correlates, and effective interventions are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine predictor variables for perceived stigmatization in psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were administered to 514 patients with psoriasis in a cross-sectional study. Zero-order correlation and multiple-regression analyses were conducted including sociodemographic, disease-related, personality, illness cognitions and social support predictor variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stigmatization was experienced by 73% of patients to some degree, and correlated with all five categories of predictor variables. In multiple-regression analyses, stigmatization was associated with higher impact on daily life; lower education; higher disease visibility, severity and duration; higher levels of social inhibition; having a type D personality; and not having a partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that perceived stigmatization is common in psoriasis, and can be predicted by sociodemographic, disease-related and personality variables. These predictor variables provide indications of which patients are especially vulnerable regarding perceived stigmatization, which might be used in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.|Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Beugen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.|Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Middendorp
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.|Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferwerda
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rijnstate Hospital, Velp, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: M E J
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zeeuwen-Franssen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente, Almelo, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E B M
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kroft
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M G J
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A R T
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Donders
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: P C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.|Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A W M
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Evers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D064415:Type D Personality; D055815:Young Adult