Empathy as a possible predictor for public stigma towards people with psoriasis: An online video-vignette study in the Dutch population

Psoriasis patients frequently report feelings of stigmatization. While many studies have been done on self-stigma, perceived stigma and on the impact of stigmatization on patients with psoriasis, few studies have focused on the extent and predictors of public stigma towards psoriasis. This cross-sectional study is the first study to date to focus on the extent of public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population, as well as to examine the possible predictive value of four subscales of empathy as assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); perspective taking, PT; fantasy, FS; empathic concern, EC; and personal distress, PD. Respondents (N = 121) were asked to watch video vignettes, after which public stigma was measured with the Impact of Chronic Skin Disease on Daily Life (ISDL). A paired-samples t-test and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results suggests that that there is public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population (t(119) = -6.55, p < .001...Show morePsoriasis patients frequently report feelings of stigmatization. While many studies have been done on self-stigma, perceived stigma and on the impact of stigmatization on patients with psoriasis, few studies have focused on the extent and predictors of public stigma towards psoriasis. This cross-sectional study is the first study to date to focus on the extent of public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population, as well as to examine the possible predictive value of four subscales of empathy as assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); perspective taking, PT; fantasy, FS; empathic concern, EC; and personal distress, PD. Respondents (N = 121) were asked to watch video vignettes, after which public stigma was measured with the Impact of Chronic Skin Disease on Daily Life (ISDL). A paired-samples t-test and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results suggests that that there is public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population (t(119) = -6.55, p < .001). A weak positive relation between personal distress (PD) and public stigma was found (B = .08, p = .04), while the other three empathy subscales (PT, FS and EC) were not found to be significant predictors for public stigma towards psoriasis (all p-values >.05). These results add to the theoretical knowledge about psoriasis and theory development and suggest that interventions against public stigma towards psoriasis might not focus on eliciting empathy, as other mechanisms would possibly be more beneficial in reducing public stigma. Future studies should replicate the study with other measurement instruments.Show less

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Empathy as a possible predictor for public stigma towards people with psoriasis: An online video-vignette study in the Dutch population