The doctoral thesis of Dr. Liat Hooper from the Department of Social Work and the Faculty of Health Sciences revealed for the first time the existence of gender differences in the health and mental consequences of baldness, as a result of the radiation against ringworm
The doctoral thesis of Dr. Liat Hooper from the Department of Social Work and the Faculty of Health Sciences revealed for the first time the existence of gender differences in the health and mental consequences of baldness, as a result of the radiation against ringworm.
The findings of the research, which even won the John Goldsmith Award as groundbreaking research, were published in the journals Israel Journal of Health Policy Research and-International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
The doctoral thesis of Dr. Liat Hopper For the first time, the existence of gender differences in the health and mental consequences of baldness, as a result of radiation against ringworm, was revealed. The research findings indicate a higher incidence of migraines, hypertension, cancer, depression, suicide attempts, taking psychiatric drugs and divorce among ringworm patients, compared to the general population. The study indicates gender differences among ringworm patients in the rate of reporting migraines, hypertension, depression, anxiety and social avoidance, exposure to verbal and physical violence, and low self-esteem, when the frequency of these phenomena is higher among women.
In addition, the study compared the health and psychosocial status of ringworm patients to that of alopecia totalis patients. The study sample included two groups characterized by a high level of baldness. 322 men and women who were recognized by the Gzazat committees between 2015-1995 as suffering from baldness as a result of radiation therapy against the disease, as well as 41 women and men with alopecia totalis who are dealing with scalp baldness.
In a comparison between ringworm patients and alopecia totalis patients, higher rates of migraine, depression, and exposure to verbal violence against the background of baldness were found among ringworm patients. At the same time, when controlling for background variables and psychosocial characteristics, no difference was found between these two groups of patients in the risk of depression. This shows that baldness, regardless of the circumstances of its formation, is a significant risk factor for depression.
"This is a completely new field of research and has a large variety of important policy implications," said Dr. Hopper. more of the patients."
"Baldness caused by medical treatment or as a result of disease affects men and women in different ways. In developing services and interventions adapted to this population, health policy makers should take into account both the common needs and the unique needs of men and women," she concluded.
Research guides: Prof. Shafra Shortz From the Department of Medical Education at the Faculty of Health Sciences, PProf. Dorit Segal Anglechin and Dr. Neta Ahdot Bar Sade From the Department of Social Work.
