Investigating the severity of scoliosis and self-perception of the visible disfigurement as predictors of psychological distress.

Scoliosis, is a complex curvature of the spine, that appears in otherwise healthy individuals, with the resulting skeletal disfigurement frequently having a negative psychological impact, in that previous research finds scoliosis to be a substantial risk factor for psychological distress. The presence of psychological distress is a cause for concern for specialists, relating to a patient’s adjustment to treatment, in terms of a lack of compliance or the presence of psychosocial difficulties. The present study aimed to assess the extent to which there is a psychological impact associated with severity of scoliosis and self-perception of the disfigurement produced by scoliosis, in terms of body image concerns, health related quality of life, depression and anxiety, informing professionals in assessing whether psychological treatment is necessary in supporting clinical treatment. The study built on existing literature, through the use of adult participants, an area lacking in research. 165 adults with scoliosis, aged 18-65 completed multiple online-based self-report questionnaires measuring all variables. Relationships were established between variables using Pearson’s correlation coefficients; findings demonstrated that both severity and self-perception significantly correlated with body image concerns, whilst self-perception also correlated with health related quality of life, depression, and anxiety, suggestive of the negative influence an individual’s perception of their body and therefore self-worth has on psychological factors. Regression analyses assessed the extent of these relationships, finding the self-perception of disfigurement to be markedly influential in predicting all aspects of psychological distress, particularly body image concerns