Loneliness and its relationship to body image in leprosy patients in the city of Taiz - Republic of Yemen

Abstract

     The research aimed to measure the values of the two variables of body image and loneliness among leprosy patients, the association between them, and the differences between their values according to the independent variables of gender, age group, location of infection, and place of residence. The research used descriptive method with a sample of 61 Leprosy patients, 34 males and 27 females, from Al-Noor quarantine town, Taiz City, middle of Yemen.  

For the purpose of data collection, the researchers prepared a body image scale, and adopted a loneliness scale. de Jong-Grieved & Kamphuis,1985.

     The results showed low values of body image, but a high value of loneliness feeling among the leprosy patients indicating a monotonic negative association between the two variables. All measures of differences between genders, ages, infection locations and place of residence of either body image’s or loneliness feeling’s values were found to be statistically insignificant.