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Download the report - The Healing Foundation

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This group tended to advance internal attributions for o<strong>the</strong>rs’ reactions to visible difference, and<br />

to personalise <strong>the</strong>se responses.<br />

“It's as though I'm making o<strong>the</strong>r people uncomfortable as well as me being<br />

uncomfortable ...” (03/clin/1016/derm-barns)<br />

Appraising self – in relation to o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />

Stable coping group<br />

This group tended to make downward social comparisions with o<strong>the</strong>rs – both to o<strong>the</strong>r people<br />

with disfigurement and to o<strong>the</strong>r people more generally, emphasising that <strong>the</strong>y were often in a<br />

better position than o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

“<strong>the</strong>re’s always someone worse off than yourself, you see it all <strong>the</strong> time and you<br />

thank your lucky stars you’re not <strong>the</strong>re...you’ve got to do this” (05/clin/1047/entsw)<br />

Stable distressed group<br />

This group showed an idealised view of o<strong>the</strong>rs and those with no visible difference.<br />

“I think I've let it get on top of me and I think I'm weak for letting that happen<br />

because when you see o<strong>the</strong>r people on, you know if you look at o<strong>the</strong>r people on<br />

<strong>the</strong> telly or things like that, if you see o<strong>the</strong>r people on <strong>the</strong> telly or you hear stories<br />

about what o<strong>the</strong>r people have gone through you're thinking, I sometimes get<br />

angry with myself thinking you're an idiot, not pa<strong>the</strong>tic, you're just silly for letting it<br />

get on top of you, apart from my skin and my asthma, I've got o<strong>the</strong>r things, o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

health problems I've got, <strong>the</strong>y're not limiting, I think I've been limiting myself, you<br />

know” 03/clin/1016/derm-barns<br />

3. Appraising self – perceived efficacy to cope with appearance-related difficulties<br />

Stable coping group<br />

This group recognised <strong>the</strong>ir difficulties as ongoing and demanding but within <strong>the</strong>ir control. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

sought to overcome challenges, and recognised that positive adjustment required personal<br />

resources and taking an active role in coping, employing a range of behavioural and cognitive<br />

strategies. <strong>The</strong> concept of self-efficacy distinguishes well between this group and <strong>the</strong> stable<br />

distressed group. <strong>The</strong> latter group <strong>report</strong>ed less sense of <strong>the</strong>ir ability to successfully adapt to<br />

issues affecting <strong>the</strong>ir lives.<br />

107

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