Coping as mediator of the relationship between stress and itch in patients with atopic dermatitis: a regression and mediation analysis
Open accessAbstract
Even though it has been shown that stress and itch are associated in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), it remains unclear whether this relationship occurs due to certain coping strategies being activated under stress. Therefore, this study investigates the role of coping as possible mediating factor between stress and itch in 31 patients with AD. Coping and itch were assessed by self-reported measures, while stress was measured both by a validated questionnaire and by a physiological stress marker, the postawakening cortisol. Using a regression and a mediation analysis, this study showed a relationship between perceived stress and itch (corrected R2 = 0.21), which was fully mediated by negative itch-related cognitions. 62.3% of the variance of itch intensity could be explained by negative itch-related cognitions. This finding helps to explain the positive effects of cognitive restructuring in the treatment of chronic itch.
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In patients with atopic dermatitis, patients who reacted to stress with negative itch-related cognitions reported higher itch intensities than patients with the opposite cognitive reaction.
“In this study, the relationship between stress and itch was mediated by itch-related cognitions and patients, who reacted to stress with negative itch-related cognitions reported higher itch intensities than patients with the opposite cognitive reaction (7).”
From Mindfulness as Predictor of Itch Catastrophizing in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Results of a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (2021) · cites this paper as [7]
In patients with atopic dermatitis, there is a significant correlation between perceived stress, cognitive coping, and itch intensity.
“Schut et al. (7) found a significant correlation between perceived stress, cognitive coping, and itch intensity in patients with AD.”
From Mindfulness as Predictor of Itch Catastrophizing in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Results of a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (2021) · cites this paper as [7]
In patients with atopic dermatitis, the relationship between stress and itch is mediated by itch-related cognitions.
“In this study, the relationship between stress and itch was mediated by itch-related cognitions and patients, who reacted to stress with negative itch-related cognitions reported higher itch intensities than patients with the opposite cognitive reaction (7).”
From Mindfulness as Predictor of Itch Catastrophizing in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Results of a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (2021) · cites this paper as [7]
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- Authors
- Schut, C., Weik, U., Tews, N., Gieler, U., Deinzer, R., & Kupfer, J.
- Affiliations
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
- Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schut, Christina
- Venue
- Experimental Dermatology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-11-18
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 148-150
- ISSN
- 0906-6705 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0625
- OpenAlex
- W2049489020
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5
- FWCI
- 4.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Experimental Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
- Keywords
- atopic dermatitis, pruritus, stress, coping, perceived stress, chronic pruritus, cognitive restructuring, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Cognition, Dermatitis, Atopic, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Perception, Pruritus, Surveys and Questionnaires, Regression Analysis, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult
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