National Psoriasis Foundation Announces Results Of The Attitudes Toward Psoriasis Survey

Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 16 Oct 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Psoriasis is a particularly difficult disease for young adults ages 18 to 25 with psoriasis, as they are often starting new lives, building careers and developing life-long relationships when the disease can flare.

There is anecdotal evidence that young adults who have psoriasis experience prejudice as a result of their condition. This prejudice can range from a feeling of social isolation to not being considered for jobs or other opportunities.

By educating the general public about psoriasis and the impact it can have on an individual, a more thoughtful and accepting environment can be created.

Young adults with psoriasis

--- Six in seven 18 to 25 year olds surveyed report psoriasis has an impact on their lives. When asked to categorize the impact that psoriasis has had on their lives, 45% of young men and women between the ages of 18 to 25 describe it as greater than slight.

--- Impacts of living with psoriasis have been reported to include:
- Five in nine young adults feeling uncomfortable when people stare
- One in three having others think they are contagious
- One in three having people ask about their disease
- Three in ten wearing long sleeved shirts, when they normally would not
- One in six feeling people are avoiding them

Young adults without psoriasis

-- Knowing someone with psoriasis is the strongest predictor of respondent knowledge about the disease, though still one in four of these respondents are unsure about psoriasis' communicability.

-- Two-in-five young adults who know psoriasis is not contagious are twice as likely to date someone with the disease.

-- If the respondent personally knows someone with psoriasis, they are much more likely to know the disease is not contagious (77%), than those do not know someone with psoriasis (37%).

http://www.psoriasis.org