Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine the impact of burns on the level and structure of self-esteem. The purpose of the conducted studies was to demonstrate if people with burn scars differ from healthy people in the level of self-esteem and whether if there is a correlation between the area of burn, its visibility, the patient’s age at the time of an accident and the level of self-esteem in individuals with burns or scalds.The sample comprised 30 patients with burns or scalds and 30 control group subjects. In the group of patients with scalds, additional variables such as the age at the time of injury, extent of burn and its location were taken into account. The respondents filled in a questionnaire whose aim was to measure their level of self-esteem taking into account its components: self-esteem of physical appearance, self-esteem of social and mental qualities. The survey consisted of 54 items assessed using a 5-level scale. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using the Student-t testStatistically significant differences between the studied groups were found in the general level of self-esteem (t =- 2.1, p = 0.03) and self-esteem of physical appearance (t = -2.29, p = 0.02). Within the group of patients with burns, those at younger age (less than 4) were characterized by a significantly higher level of self-esteem (t =- 2.22, p = 0.03) than those who were older and sustained burns.Burn patients are characterized by a lower level of self-esteem in comparison with those who did not sustain this type of injury. The age at the time of sustaining burns can be one of the factors affecting the level of self-esteem of burn patients.

Key words:

Burns, scars, self-esteem