Association Between Psychosocial Distress, Sexual Disorders, Self-esteem and Quality of Life with Male Androgenetic Alopecia: a Population-based Study with Men at Age 46

Overview

Journal BMJ Open

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Aug 28

PMID 39192534

Authors

Suvi-Paivikki Sinikumpu

Jari Jokelainen

Juha Auvinen

Markku Timonen

Laura Huilaja

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To study the association between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and its severity with psychosocial well-being in male subjects aged 46 years at the population level.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966).

Participants: Data were available for 892 male subjects aged 46 years.

Interventions: Study subjects underwent comprehensive health examinations including a skin evaluation by dermatologists and determination of AGA according to the Norwood classification. They also filled in a questionnaire battery that included previously validated questionnaires: the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, the Beck Depression Inventory-II; the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Screener; a 15-dimensional measure of health-related quality of life; a 12-Item General Health Questionnaire. The battery also included questions about self-esteem and sexual health.

Main Outcome Measurements: The presence of AGA and its severity, psychosocial well-being.

Results: AGA was found in 68.5% of subjects, 27.8% of the cases were severe, 33.2% moderate and 39.0% mild. There was no significant association between the presence of AGA or its severity with depression, anxiety, quality of life, self-esteem or sexual symptoms. Those with severe AGA reported lower sexual activity when compared with those without AGA; however, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Middle-aged men with AGA did not differ from men without AGA in terms of psychosocial well-being.

Citing Articles

The Impact of Androgenic Alopecia on the Quality of Life of Male Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Al Najjar O, Alkhars M, Al Molhim S, Alajmi M, Alhafith A, Al Najjar M Cureus. 2023; 15(10):e47760.

PMID: 38021524 PMC: 10676293. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47760.

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