Authors
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Gabriel Mihai Mekeres
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Universitatii Street Nr. 1, 410087 Oradea, Romania and County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
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Florica Voita-Mekeres
County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania and Department of Morphological Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
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Cristina Tudoran
Department VII, Internal Medicine II, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania and Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania and County Emergency Hospital, L. Rebreanu Street, Nr. 156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania.
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Camelia Liana Buhas
County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania and Department of Morphological Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
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Mariana Tudoran
Department VII, Internal Medicine II, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania and Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania and County Emergency Hospital, L. Rebreanu Street, Nr. 156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania.
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Mariana Racovita
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Universitatii Street Nr. 1, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
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Nutu Cristian Voita
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Universitatii Street Nr. 1, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
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Nicolae Ovidiu Pop
Department of Surgical, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
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Mihai Marian
Psychology Department, Faculty of Socio-Humanistic Sciences, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, No. 3, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
Keywords:
Scars, mental suffering, internalization, psychometric methods
Abstract
In this chapter, we examine the internalization of scars and their impact on hopelessness, depression, or the perception of social support in subjects with post-traumatic scars compared to people with surgical scars. The visibility of scars acts as a mediator of psychological suffering, and hiding them improves maladaptive behavior and leads often to a return to normal functioning.
We examined data from 110 participants, 61 women and 49 men, ranging in age from 18 to 64; 55 people had scars that were the result of post-traumatic injury and 55 had scars that were the result of surgery. They were all subjected to a scar assessment, asked to complete four psycho-social questionnaires, and had the results compared.
Our findings suggest that, depending on the shape and size of the scar, those with post-traumatic scars are more likely to internalize them. We contend that hopelessness, scar appreciation, age, and scar production are all key determinants of internalization. The patient's reaction to the appearance of a scar predicts how he or she will react in the future and may indicate the vulnerability to hopelessness. Finally, we consider the impact of objective bodily injury on psychological and moral suffering.
