Comparing Women and Men’s Experiences with Kallmann Syndrome

• 作者: Hertha Richter-Appelt Johannes Hofmann Meike Watzlawik
• 来源期刊: 医学心理学(英文)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: Kallmann SYNDROME Hypergonadotropic HYPOGONADISM HORMONE DISORDER DELAYED Puberty Pubertal Development
• 年，卷（期）: yxxlxyw_2014,（1）
• 页码范围: 1-17
• 页数: 17页
• 分类号: R73

摘要

Topic: Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a congenital olfacto-genital disease. Affected persons show an absence of physical pubertal development, and their sense of smell is reduced or absent (anosmia). The prevalence is 1:40,000 in women and 1:8000 to 1:10,000 in men. Development of gender identity corresponds to the assigned gender at birth. The cause of KS is a genetic defect. To date, only a few systematic investigations have delved into the psychological disstress and consequences of the somatic characteristics of KS. In order for affected persons to be appropriately informed, well-founded research results are necessary. The focus of the present study aims at examining the similarities and differences between the psychological disstress and consequences women and men experience through the development, on the one hand, and through its medical treatment on the other. The present text complements current findings on the psychological consequences of KS in men [1] and women, respectively [2]. Two questions lie at the center of the comparison: 1) Which similarities and which gender-specific differences are there concerning the perceived burdens? 2) Which coping strategies have been developed in dealing with the burdens and consequences caused by KS in the affected women and men? Which similarities and which gender-specific differences are there with respect to these coping strategies? Methodology: The survey has been carried out by means of topically focused narrative interviews of 16 men and 5 women. Based on the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring [3], categories have been generated and evaluated on the basis of the interview material. The results of the male and female samples have been contrasted and analyzed in gender-specific relevant key subjects [1,2]. Results: The comparison shows that the burdens women and men experience through KS go beyond the somato-medical problems, and that the psychosocial consequences are a heavy burden for the members of both groups. Men bear a heavier burden through inse