Date of Award
1-1-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Psychology
First Advisor
Laura J. Dixon
Second Advisor
Hannah Allen
Third Advisor
Aaron Lee
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This study investigated the complex interplay between psychological stress, trauma-related experiences, and skin disease symptoms, alongside the potential moderating role of emotional social support. While the worsening effect of stress on skin conditions is well-documented, the specific association between trauma and dermatological symptoms, and its contribution to inflammatory responses, warrants further exploration. The stress-buffering hypothesis posits that perceived emotional support can mitigate the negative impact of stress on quality of life in chronic health conditions. This hypothesis has found support across various chronic physical and psychological ailments, yet its applicability to dermatological conditions remains less established. Our study pursued two primary objectives: first, to deepen our understanding of how different forms of stress—perceived stress, major life events, and PTSD symptom severity—relate to skin-related outcomes, specifically quality of life and disease severity. Second, we aimed to extend existing chronic health research by examining the stress-buffering hypothesis within a dermatology sample, focusing on the moderating effect of social emotional support on the relationship between stress and skin outcomes. We hypothesized that increased stress levels would correlate with more severe skin symptoms and a diminished quality of life. Furthermore, we predicted that greater emotional social support would lessen the impact of stress on both skin disease severity and quality of life. Our findings confirmed a significant association between higher stress levels and more severe skin disease symptoms and lower quality of life. However, contrary to our hypothesis, emotional social support did not significantly moderate this relationship within our dermatology sample. Despite the lack of support for the stress-buffering hypothesis in this specific context, the undeniable link between stress and skin-related outcomes underscores the significant and often overlooked psychological burden experienced by individuals with dermatological conditions. These results strongly advocate for the integration of mental health screening and interventions as a crucial component of comprehensive dermatological care.
Recommended Citation
Strange, Taylor A., "Examining Stress, Stress, Potentially Traumatic Events, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Emotional Support Among Individuals with Skin Disease Symptoms" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3395.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3395