Perceived social support and psychosocial adaptation in patients with chronic skin diseases: the mediating role of self-disclosure

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between perceived social support, self-disclosure, and psychosocial adaptation among patients with chronic skin diseases, and examine the mediating role of self-disclosure within this relationship.

Background: Chronic skin disease imposes not only physical burdens but also frequently precipitates significant psychosocial adaptation difficulties. However, current research remains insufficient in understanding the overall characteristics of psychosocial adaptation associated with such conditions and their key driving factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist for quality reporting, with the findings of which being validated through a mediation model. Utilising convenience sampling, 317 patients with chronic skin disease were recruited from a total of eight Class A tertiary hospitals located within mainland China. Questionnaire surveys were conducted using a general information questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Distress Disclosure Index Scale, and Psychosocial Adaptation Scale. Data analysis utilised descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and a mediation effect model.

Results: A total of 317 patients participated in the survey. Significant positive correlations were observed between psychosocial adaptation and the total scores for perceived social support and self-disclosure, as well as their respective dimensional scores (r = 0.703, r = 0.678, all p < 0.01). Mediational analysis indicated that self-disclosure partially mediated the relationship between perceived social support and psychosocial adaptation (Mediation was found to account for 17.8% of the total effect).

Conclusion: The Results reports that the psychosocial adaptation scale, when benchmarked against the median mean score of the scale items, indicate an overall level that is moderately low. Perceived social support has the capacity to influence psychosocial adaptation by affecting the degree of self-disclosure provides a theoretical basis upon which subsequent development of targeted intervention measures can be grounded.

Keywords: chronic skin disease; health psychology; perceived social support; psychodermatology; psychosocial adaptation; self-disclosure; stigma.