COPING STRATEGIES AS PREDICTORS OF HEALTH BEHAVIOUR IN CHRONIC DERMATOSES

This study aims to measure health behaviour change in chronic dermatoses and to assess the predictive power of coping strategies for engagement in health behaviour. The research sample was comprised of 120 participants, which included a group of 60 patients with chronic dermatoses (30 patients with psoriasis and 30 patients with vitiligo) and 60 healthy individuals as controls. Instruments used in this study were Health Behaviour Inventory and Coping Orientations to Problems Experiences COPE. The study revealed that there is no difference in health behaviour between vitiligo patients and controls. Psoriasis patients more frequently engage in preventive behaviour than healthy individuals. Coping strategies can be used to predict health behaviour in chronic dermatoses.