Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2024
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Laura Dixon
Second Advisor
Aaron Lee
Third Advisor
Sarah Bilsky
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Difficulties in emotion regulation (DER), referring to an individual’s ability to understand and control negative emotions and impulsive behaviors, have been linked to increased perceived stress and skin picking disorder symptom severity. However, the relationships between skin picking, DER, and perceived stress have yet to be examined among individuals with eczema. The current study aimed to further understand the contribution of difficulties in emotion regulation in the relationship between perceived stress and skin picking symptoms in individuals with eczema. Participants recruited from an online sample who endorsed current symptoms of eczema were included in the current analyses. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing severity of skin picking, difficulties in regulating emotion, and perceived stress. In this sample, 42.1% met the suggested clinical cutoff for skin picking disorder. Bivariate correlations indicated a significant positive between the primary variables. A mediation analysis indicated that emotion regulation difficulties were a significant mediator of the relationship between perceived stress and skin picking. The correlational results are consistent with previous research in non-dermatological samples. Findings suggest that further research into the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation, perceived stress, and skin picking symptoms in those with eczema, as well as other skin conditions, is needed to better understand the directionality between psychological and dermatological symptoms.
Recommended Citation
Villiger, Jenna, "Analyzing the Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties on the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Skin Picking Symptoms in Individuals with Eczema" (2024). Honors Theses. 3106.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3106
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