Emotional associations with skin: Differences between burned and non-burned individuals

Titscher, A.; Lumenta, D.B.; Kamolz, L.P.; Mittlboeck, M.; Frey, M.

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2010.05.020

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Volume 36, Issue 6 , Pages 759-763, September 2010

Emotional associations with skin: Differences between burned and non-burned individuals☆

A. Titscher
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vienna Burn Centre, Department of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
D.B. Lumenta
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vienna Burn Centre, Department of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
L.P. Kamolz
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vienna Burn Centre, Department of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 1 40400 6860; fax: +43 1 40400 6862.
M. Mittlboeck
- Core Unit for Medical Statistics and Informatics, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
M. Frey
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vienna Burn Centre, Department of Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

Accepted 25 May 2010.

Abstract

Introduction

The appearance of skin is crucial for our physical and psychological integrity, and is strongly associated with our emotional self-awareness. Burn victims have to cope with negative and even threatening sensations resulting from the changed appearance of their skin after injury and also linked to experiences during the treatment.

The aim of this study was to analyse differences regarding the emotional associations with skin in burn victims (burn group) to persons not having subdued any burn (control group).

Methods

In the first instance over 960 volunteers were recruited for the rating of emotional associations with skin in the control group and thereby a representative profile for non-injured individuals. In the second part, 44 burn patients of the Vienna Burn Center answered the same questionnaire. The quantitative rating of emotional associations with skin was performed with a newly designed questionnaire using a semantic differential on eight dimensions with a 5-point scale system.

Results

Both groups have positive associations with skin. One significant difference (p=0.0090, Chi-square test for trend) was the overall rating of the item “importance”: for burn victims skin is more “important” than for controls. Patients with visible burns tended to put more emphasize on the possible exposure to danger (“threatened”) of skin, and patients with ≥20% TBSA rated skin as more “noticeable” and “strong” as compared to small burns (<20% TBSA). Patients with burns to the face, hands and neck (“visible burns”) were more likely to judge skin as threatened item.

Discussion

Our poll suggests that despite long treatment, rehabilitation and even near-death experiences burn patients continue to have positive associations with skin. This in turn, should encourage all specialists dealing with burns to engage in a continuous follow-up as well as enhance psychological and social support.

Keywords: Skin, Burns, Emotions, ABEMS, Semantic differential, Psychological tests, Questionnaires