Generation Z, Millennials Exhibit Similar Subjective Perception of Atopic Dermatitis Disease Severity

Authors of a recent study reported generational comparisons in perceptions of dermatological disease.

The study, published in the International Journal of Dermatology, found that members of Generation Z (defined as born 1993 to 2001) had a similar subjective perception of atopic dermatitis (AD) disease severity than members of the Millennial generation (defined as born 1978 to 1992).¹

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Background and Methods

Researchers noted that while previous studies^2-3 have explored the relationship between age and perception of disease severity, such as perceptions among adolescents and young children, for example, there remains a disparity in research exploring generational differences in perception.

With this in mind, authors of the present study, Ureña-Paniego et al, sought to assess the clinical and subjective perception of AD severity across generations.

Researchers carried out a cross-sectional study between February and May 2023 at a single study center in Spain. Patients involved in the study included 37 members of the Millennial generation and 33 members of Generation Z.

Patients were required to have a clinical AD diagnosis at the time of inclusion and were deemed unable to participate if they presented with another chronic skin disease that may have had implications on their overall quality of life.

Findings

Aside from differences in age, the gender distribution of participants was similar between the groups, with women making up approximately 56% of both generational cohorts.

A higher percentage of Generation Z patients were single (100%) compared to Millennial generation patients (67.6%). Educational attainment was relatively comparable, though members of Generation Z had a higher percentage of individuals with secondary education, and Millennials had a greater percentage of individuals with higher education.

Additional factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, body mass index, family history of AD, and occurrence of atopic symptoms, were similar among both cohorts.

Disease-specific differences, however, were noted. For example: the Millennial cohort exhibited a longer duration of AD (average 25.6 years) compared to Generation Z (average 18.5 years), with statistical significance.

Clinical severity also differed between generational groups, with Generation Z having significantly lower Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores (9.75) versus Millennials (16.63).

However, despite lower EASI scores, both generations had similar perceptions of disease severity as measured by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) (Millennial: 43.5 ± 29.0; Generation Z: 33.0 ± 21.9), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (Millennial: 12.1 ± 8.5; Generation Z: 15.5 ± 6.7), and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (Millennial: 8.2 ± 6.1; Generation Z: 8.5 ± 4.4), with no statistically significant differences reported.

Within the Generation Z cohort, EASI scores did not show significant correlations with other severity scales. However, SCORAD scores showed substantial correlations with various indicators of severity.

Conclusions

"The subjective perception of AD severity is more pronounced among [Generation Z] compared to [the Millennial generation]," according to Ureña-Paniego et al.

Potential limitations of the study included its cross-sectional design and exclusive focus solely on 2 generational cohorts.

"Recognizing these generational variations contributes to developing more effective treatment strategies, enabling a tailored and targeted approach to care that addresses each generational group's distinct needs and expectations," according to study authors.

References

1. Ureña-Paniego C, Montero-Vilchez T, Sanabria-de-la-Torre R, Ramírez-Muñoz A, Arias-Santiago S. Generational differences in perceived severity of atopic dermatitis. Int J Dermatol. July 25, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.17376
2. Ezzedine K, Shourick J, Merhand S, Sampogna F, Taieb C. Perceived clinical severity of atopic dermatitis in adolescents: comparison between patients' and parents' evaluation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021; 84(1): 164–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.037
3. Kelly KA, Balogh EA, Kaplan SG, Feldman SR. Skin disease in children: effects on quality of life, stigmatization, bullying, and suicide risk in pediatric acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis patients. Children (Basel). 2021; 8(11):1057. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8111057