Comparison of the Level of Perceived Stress in People Suffering from Fungal Infections of Skin and Healthy People

 Stress is a psychological pressure that affects an individual's physical health, including skin health. Skin disorders can also exacerbate stress, creating a vicious cycle in which stress and skin diseases reinforce each other. The aim of this study was to determine the level of stress in patients with fungal skin infections and compare it with healthy individuals.

 This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with the participation of 152 patients with fungal skin infections referred to Ardabil medical centers and 148 of their companions as a healthy group in 2023. The sampling method was available sample. A total of 300 individuals were selected through convenience sampling. The Perceived Stress Scale by Cohen was used to assess stress levels. After completing the questionnaires by both groups, perceived positive and negative stress levels were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test and SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA).

 A total of 152 volunteers with fungal infections, including 108 women and 44 men, aged 18 to 48, and 148 healthy volunteers, including 76 women and 72 men, participated in the study. The mean (SD) age of the patient group was 31.5 (5.0) and the healthy group was 31.2 (6.6) years. In the patient group, the mean (SD) of perceived negative stress was 23.6 (0.3) higher than in the healthy group 22.8 (0.2) (P=0.01). There was no difference in the level of perceived positive stress between the healthy 17.0 (3.8) and the patient 16.7 (5.4) groups.

 The level of negative perceived stress was higher in patients with fungal skin infections compared to healthy individuals. Psychological interventions aimed at training patients in perceived stress management appear to be necessary.