Gender differences in variables associated with psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury

The purpose of this study was to determine whether variables associated with psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury vary by gender. Male and female burned subjects (N = 260) were compared on their functional disability, disfigurement, coping responses, social resources, and psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury. Both men and women had adjusted psychosocially to their burn injury. Less functional disability (r = .57, p less than .001) for men and greater problem-solving (r = .57, p less than .001) for women were the most important variables in explaining psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury. In the future, researchers need to be cognizant of gender differences and consider men and women as separate populations.