Dating Anxiety in Adolescents with and Without Acne Vulgaris: A Causal-Comparative Study

Introduction: Adolescence represents a critical period for developing new social and romantic relationships. Acne vulgaris may negatively impact self-perceived attractiveness and contribute to psychological distress. This study aimed to compare dating anxiety between adolescents with acne vulgaris and their healthy counterparts.Methods: This applied, causal-comparative study examined adolescents aged 13-21 who were referred to dermatology clinics and skin and beauty clinics in Qaimshahr, Iran. Participants were diagnosed by dermatology specialists. Using purposive sampling, 60 acne patients and 60 healthy controls were selected. All participants completed the Dating Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (DAS-A). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 26).Results: The results of the present study indicated significantly higher dating anxiety scores in the acne group than in the controls (P<0.05). The multivariate results indicated significant between-group differences across all DAS-A subscales: fear of negative evaluation, social distress-dating, and social distress group (P<0.05).Conclusion: According to the research findings, one of the challenges faced by adolescents with acne vulgaris was anxiety about potential romantic interactions or dating anxiety. This anxiety and its dimensions, such as fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety in group or dating contexts, might stem from perceived unattractiveness due to acne vulgaris.