The development of health related quality of life questionnaire for young men with alopecia androgenetica

Razum, Josip. (2018). The development of health related quality of life questionnaire for young men with alopecia androgenetica. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Vukasović, Tena].

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Abstract

Alopecia androgenetica (AGA) or male pattern baldness, is a condition which occurs in more than 30% of men younger than 35, and young men are the ones who seem to be affected the most by it. Previous studies link it with feelings of being less attractive, lower satisfaction with physical appearance, lower self-esteem and general feelings of worry. This study included a qualitative and a quantitative study. The qualitative study was carried out on 11 young men who had AGA. The following themes and subthemes were discovered: Thoughts and feelings (Loss of control, Feelings of being less attractive, Looking older), Social aspects (Romantic relationships, Stereotypes and reactions of others), Daily functioning, and Coping with hair loss. The data from the qualitative study was used to create the HRQL questionnaire for young men with AGA (QUALAGA). The aim of the qualitative studywas to investigate the experience of hair loss in young men and its influence on the quality of life, and the aim of the quantitative study was to create and preliminary validate an instrument which would measure health related quality of life in young men affected by AGA. The questionnaire was distributed online, and the final sample consisted of129 men with AGA, aged 19 to 35(Mage = 26.49). The questionnaire had a high internal consistency reliability and a single factor structure. It correlated positively and strongly with the psychosocial scale from Skindex-17, positively and moderately with the symptom scale, and negatively and moderately with life satisfaction and with self-esteem. Significant differences between extreme groups on QUALAGA were found on the life satisfaction and self-esteem scales, and the questionnaire correlated with being in a romantic relationship, but not with dermatological treatment seeking. This is the first specific questionnaire to measure HRQL in AGA.

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