Individual Psychological and Gender Differences in Attitude to Disease
Among Adolescents Diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis

The adolescent age is usually characterized as a critical and transitional age where the individual is most concerned with physical appearance. Most serious psychological reaction in adolescence is therefore caused by diseases that change the adolescent’s appearance, making him/her unattractive. This study examined individual psychological and gender differences in attitude to the disease among adolescents diagnosed with atopic dermatitis . 83 adolescents aged between 13 and 15 and diagnosed with moderate to grave atopic dermatitis took part in the study. The groups were divided according to gender; group 1 was made up of 45 adolescent girls, and group 2 was made up of 38 adolescent boys. The psychodiagnostic complex used in the study was: Method for establishing the disease attitude type {DAT} [L.I.Wassermann et al.];Data were analyzed using correlation and Student’s t –test. The comparison of data yielded results that indicate gender-specific types of attitudes to the disease among adolescents diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. A statistically significant difference between the groups was found in the anosognosic disease attitude type that is more typical of adolescent boys. This disease attitude type is characterized by active rejection of thoughts about the disease and its consequences which is explained by boy’s bravado, by their wish to demonstrate their invulnerability and confidence, which is in effect an attempt to compensate for low self- appraisal.

Key words: Atopic Dermatitis, Adolescents, individual –gender differences, Ukraine.