Women living with facial hair: the psychological and behavioral burden
Journal of Psychosomatic ResearchPublished 1 August 2006
Michelle Lipton, Lorraine Sherr, Jonathan Elford, Malcolm H.A. Rustin, William J. Clayton
Citations115
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.31
SNIP1.10
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TL;DR
Although overall quality of life was good, scores were low in social and relationship domains--reflecting the impact of unwanted facial hair.
Abstract
Unwanted facial hair carries a high psychological burden for women and represents a significant intrusion into their daily lives. Psychological support is a neglected element of care for these women.
Keywords
Medicine
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