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FOLLOW-ON STUDIES
STUDIES 5-13
As outlined in the section on the design considerations for this research programme, this
collaboration adopted a mixed methods approach in addressing the question of which
psychosocial factors contribute to adjustment to disfiguring conditions, with the aim of delivering
informative, balanced and useful research results. To complement the quantitative data from
Studies I and 3, a series of follow-on studies were designed using a range of predominantly
qualitative methodologies.
These studies were developed in order to expand understanding of the overall research
framework, (Study 5: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of People who Identify
Themselves as Having Adjusted Positively to a Visible Difference), or particular elements
of the framework that have been under-researched in the past, such as the impact of ethnic
group membership (Study 6: Focus Groups of BME Community Views to Facial
Disfigurement and Visible Differences; Study 7: A Qualitative Study Exploring he
Experiences of UK South Asians Living with vitiligo), the role of social comparison
processes (Study 8: Social Comparison Processes), and appearance concerns and
aggression (Study 9: Appearance Concern, Hostility & Social Situations).
Condition specific population groups about whom little research exists were also targeted as
being worthy of exploratory study. The Advisory Group encouraged the collaboration to
consider the impact of appearance concerns on intimate situations (Study 10: Developing a
Scale to Measure the Impact of Appearance Concerns on Intimate Behaviours), and also
highlighted the lack of knowledge and understanding about the psychosocial consequences of
disfigurement and appearance concerns amongst general practitioners – the primary
gatekeepers to services (Study 13: Working with Patients with Visible Differences: General
Practitioners’ Beliefs, Decision Making Processes and Training Needs). Patients seeking
treatment for arthritis have commented to several of the authors that their appearance concerns
are rarely addressed in the health care system (Study 12: In the Context of Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Does Appearance Matter?). The role of the combination of functional needs and
appearance concerns in people with prosthesis has been alluded to by researchers in the past,
yet remains under-researched (Study 11: Women with Limb Prostheses: Experiences and
Adjustment). The follow-on studies also reflected the personal research interests of the
members of the collaboration.
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