Association of alopecia with self-esteem in children and adolescents

Abstract

ObjectivesHair is important for individuals due to its cosmetic functions and its anatomical and physiological features. Hair loss in children significantly affects their social and psychological well-being and may lead to significant psychological distress in those not benefiting from medical and/or traditional therapies. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the self-esteem in children and adolescents with alopecia areata.MethodsThis comparative study included children and adolescents with the diagnosis of alopecia and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Self-esteem was evaluated by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).ResultsThe study included 64 patients with alopecia (M/F, 32/32; mean age, 12.2 ± 3.0 years) and 60 healthy controls (M/F, 30/30; mean age, 12.0 ± 3.0 years). Age (p=0.64) and sex (p=1.0) distributions were similar between the groups. Of the patients, 35 had alopecia areata, 21 had alopecia universalis, and eight had alopecia totalis. The RSES score of patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (median [interquartile range], 1 [0–2] and 1 [0–1], respectively; p=0.008). The distribution of the participants according to the level of self-esteem (low, moderate, and high) based on the RSES scores revealed that, the proportion of patients with low and moderate self-esteem were significantly higher as compared with controls (p=0.001). The diagnostic subtype and sex did not affect the distribution of self-esteem scores in both groups.ConclusionsHair loss is a significant factor affecting self-esteem of children and adolescents. Deteriorations in self-esteem may progress to psychological comorbidities if not approached, diagnosed, and treated timely and efficiently.

Evaluation of Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Striae Distensae

“…When the studies on scale evaluations in adolescents were examined in the literature, the study in which Askın et al evaluated the Rosenberg self-esteem scale in adolescents attracted attention. Sixty patients were followed in this study by Askın et al 8 In our study, we included 50 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty (Approval number: 83045809-604.01.02 Approval date: October 06, 2020).…”

Systematic Review of Psychological Interventions for Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata and Scarring Alopecia

“…For example, one publication reports that relative to a healthy population, those with alopecia areata (AA) have a significantly greater prevalence of major depressive episodes, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and paranoid disorder [5]. Similarly, children with AA have also been found to have more symptoms of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of self-esteem relative to control groups [6,7]. Furthermore, in androgenic alopecia (AGA) and primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA), there are significant reductions in quality of life, coupled with low perceived control over the hair loss and its treatment [8,9].…”

Current developmental screening practices in young children with sickle cell disease

“…A recent article notes high rates of ischaemic stroke and cognitive issues in children with SCD under five years old 3 . Although children with SCD have an increased risk of neurological complications and neurocognitive issues, 5 current understanding of the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as attention‐deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), language disorders, and developmental delays are limited 6,7 . Co‐occurrence rates of SCD and NDDs may be lower than expected, which is concerning given the high risk for neurological complications and concerns for health disparities in this population 6,7 …”