Association of Personality Traits with Treatment Adherence in Vitiligo

Arvin Hedayati; Arash Mani; Nasrin Hamidizadeh; Elnaz Chohedri; Hossein Moradi Khalaj; Reza Moshfeghinia; Bahare Oji

doi:10.18502/jimc.v6i3.12858

Arvin Hedayati Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Arash Mani Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Nasrin Hamidizadeh Molecular Dermatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Elnaz Chohedri Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Hossein Moradi Khalaj School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Reza Moshfeghinia Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Bahare Oji Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v6i3.12858

Keywords: Adherence, Personality, Traits, Vitiligo

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired, auto-immune chronic skin disorder with different treatment modalities. Insufficient adherence to treatment is closely related to the efficacy of a prescribed treatment, and also, there are some associations between adherence behaviour and personality. Therefore, the study aimed to assess a relationship between five-factor personality traits and treatment adherence in patients with vitiligo.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with vitiligo who received Ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy were recruited. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) assessed treatment adherence, and personality factors were evaluated by NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI). Data were analysed using t-tests, correlations, and multiple regression.

Results: Among 70 participants, 62.9% had low adherence, 24.3% had medium adherence, and 12.9 % had high adherence. There was a positive correlation between neuroticism (p<0.001) and adherence score. Furthermore, a negative correlation between Agreeableness (p=0.13), Conscientiousness (p<0.001), Openness to experiences (p=005), Extraversion (p<0.001), and adherence score was obtained. In the regression analysis method, only the factors of neuroticism (p<0.001) and openness ( p=0.001), and conscientiousness ( p=0.016) predicted the dependent variable (adherence score) at the significance level.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that openness to experience and conscientiousness positively affected adherence, while Neuroticism negatively affected adherence. Considering these personality factors can effectively screen poor adherence and improve treatment adherence.