The Potential of Instagram to Reduce Stigmatization of People with Psoriasis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Intervention against Stigmatisation of Psoriasis

Authors

  • Simona Maspero Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • Christopher Ebert Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • Selina Moser Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • Alexander Zink Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
  • Pablo Sichert Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
  • Maximilian Schielein Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
  • Johanna Weis Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
  • Stefanie Ziehfreund Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Institute of General Practice and Health Services Research, School of Medi-cine, Munich, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v103.3513

Keywords:

Psoriasis, social media, social stigma, skin diseases, randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Psoriasis is a stigmatized skin disease. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate an Instagram based stigma-reduction intervention targeting daily Instagram users aged 18 to 49 years without psoriasis. After stratification for baseline characteristics (t0), stigmatization of psoriasis was assessed using a questionnaire and a photo-rating task immediately before (t1) and after (t2) the intervention and two weeks post-intervention (t3). Data from 54 participants, recruited in a university setting and via Instagram, were analysed. For 10 min between t1 and t2, the intervention group (n =26) and the control group (n =28) scrolled through two different Instagram accounts. Psoriasis-sensitizing content was displayed to the intervention group while beauty-glorifying posts were shown to the control group. Results indicated significantly less Disease-related Misconceptions in the intervention group in comparison to the control group at t2 (U = 145.50, Z = –3.79, p < 0.001) and at t3 (U = 177.00, Z = –3.25, p = 0.003). Moreover, the intervention group showed a significant reduction over time in Stereotype Endorsement (F(2, 50) = 13.40, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.35) and Disease-related Misconceptions (χ2(2) = 12.64, p = 0.002). These findings suggest that addressing psoriasis on Instagram has the potential to effectively reduce the related stigmatization. Further studies are necessary to assess the impact of social media on stigmatization concerning psoriasis in more depth.

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Additional Files

Published

2023-03-23

How to Cite

Maspero, S., Ebert, C., Moser, S., Zink, A. ., Sichert, P., Schielein, M., … Ziehfreund, S. (2023). The Potential of Instagram to Reduce Stigmatization of People with Psoriasis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study: Intervention against Stigmatisation of Psoriasis. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 103, adv3513. https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v103.3513