The Importance of the Psychosocial Internalization Process in Patients with Post-Traumatic Scars

In this chapter, we examine the internalization of scars and their impact on hopelessness, depression, or the perception of social support in subjects with post-traumatic scars compared to people with surgical scars. The visibility of scars acts as a mediator of psychological suffering, and hiding them improves maladaptive behavior and leads often to a return to normal functioning.

We examined data from 110 participants, 61 women and 49 men, ranging in age from 18 to 64; 55 people had scars that were the result of post-traumatic injury and 55 had scars that were the result of surgery. They were all subjected to a scar assessment, asked to complete four psycho-social questionnaires, and had the results compared.

Our findings suggest that, depending on the shape and size of the scar, those with post-traumatic scars are more likely to internalize them. We contend that hopelessness, scar appreciation, age, and scar production are all key determinants of internalization. The patient's reaction to the appearance of a scar predicts how he or she will react in the future and may indicate the vulnerability to hopelessness. Finally, we consider the impact of objective bodily injury on psychological and moral suffering.