Psychological Impact of Unwanted Hair and Electrolysis Survey

Psychological Impact of Unwanted Hair and Electrolysis Survey
This survey asks about the emotional, social, and practical impact of unwanted hair and your experience with electrolysis.

There are no right or wrong answers. We are interested in your personal experience and how it may have changed over time.

Participation is voluntary. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer. Your responses will be kept confidential and reported without information that directly identifies you.

Unless otherwise noted, please answer based on your own experience.
Demographics & Treatment Details
1. What is your age?
2. How do you describe your gender identity?

Another identity
3. What is the primary reason you are receiving electrolysis?
4. Which area or areas are you currently treating with electrolysis?

Other
5. Approximately how long have you been receiving electrolysis?
6. Approximately how often do you currently receive electrolysis?
7. Approximately how many total hours of electrolysis have you received?
Impact of Unwanted Hair Before Electrolysis
Thinking back to the period before you began electrolysis, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement.

Before beginning electrolysis:

Rows	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree	Not Applicable
8. Unwanted hair negatively affected my confidence in my appearance
9. Unwanted hair caused me emotional distress
10. I spent a significant amount of time thinking about unwanted hair
11. I spent a significant amount of time shaving, removing, managing, or concealing unwanted hair
12. I felt uncomfortable leaving home when unwanted hair was visible
13. I avoided being photographed because of unwanted hair
14. I avoided certain social situations because of unwanted hair
15. Unwanted hair affected how comfortable I felt meeting new people
16. Unwanted hair affected how comfortable I felt looking at myself in the mirror
17. Unwanted hair affected how comfortable I felt in public
18. Unwanted hair affected how comfortable I felt at work or school
19. Unwanted hair affected my comfort in intimate or personal relationships
20. Unwanted hair made it more difficult for me to feel comfortable in my body
21. Unwanted hair interfered with my ability to express myself authentically
22. Unwanted hair negatively affected my overall quality of life

Gender-Related Impact of Unwanted Hair

Since beginning electrolysis:

Rows	Not at all	A little	Moderately	Quite a bit	Extremely	Not Applicable
23. Unwanted hair made me feel less feminine.
24. Unwanted hair made me feel less masculine.
25. Unwanted hair made me feel less like the gender I identify with.

Personal Impact of Electrolysis Since Beginning Treatment
Thinking about your experience since beginning electrolysis, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement.

Since beginning electrolysis:

Rows	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly agree	Not Applicable
26. I feel more confident in my appearance
27. I spend less time thinking about unwanted hair
28. I spend less time shaving, removing, managing, or concealing unwanted hair
29. I feel more comfortable leaving home without concealing unwanted hair
30. I feel more comfortable being photographed
31. I feel more comfortable looking at myself in the mirror
32. I feel more comfortable meeting new people
33. I avoid fewer social situations because of unwanted hair
34. I feel more comfortable in public
35. I feel more comfortable at work or school
36. I feel more comfortable in intimate or personal relationships
37. I feel more comfortable with my body
38. Electrolysis has reduced my distress related to unwanted hair
39. Electrolysis has reduced my anxiety related to unwanted hair
40. Electrolysis has helped me express myself more authentically
41. Visible progress has helped me remain motivated to continue treatment
42. Electrolysis has improved my overall emotional well-being
43. Electrolysis has improved my overall quality of life
44. Electrolysis has made a meaningful difference in my life

Gender-Related Impact of Electrolysis

Gender-Related Impact of Electrolysis

Rows	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly agree	Not Applicable
45. Electrolysis has helped my appearance better reflect my gender identity
46. Electrolysis has helped me feel more comfortable expressing my gender
47. Electrolysis has reduced my gender-related distress or gender dysphoria
48. Electrolysis has helped me feel more hopeful about my gender-affirmation or transition goals

Treatment Burden and Value

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement:

Rows	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly agree	Not Applicable
49. Having to let my hair grow before treatment has been emotionally difficult for me
50. Having to let my hair grow before treatment has affected my confidence or daily activities
51. Electrolysis has required a greater time commitment than I expected
52. Electrolysis has required a greater financial commitment than I expected
53. Electrolysis has required a greater emotional commitment than I expected
54. Electrolysis has been worth the financial investment
55. Electrolysis has been worth the time commitment
56. Electrolysis has been worth the discomfort experienced
57. Electrolysis has been worth the travel required
58. Electrolysis has been worth the emotional effort required

Barriers to Beginning or Continuing Electrolysis

How difficult has each of the following made it for you to begin or continue electrolysis?

Rows	Not Difficult	Slightly Difficult	Moderately Difficult	Very Difficult	Extremely Difficult	Not Applicable
59. Cost
60. Lack of insurance coverage or reimbursement
61. Time required for treatment
62. Travel distance or transportation
63. Appointment availability
64. Work or school schedule
65. Family or caregiving responsibilities
66. Pain or discomfort
67. Skin recovery or healing time
68. I have concerns about privacy or being seen at appointments.
69. Finding a qualified or experienced electrologist
70. Finding an electrologist who understands my treatment needs
71. Privacy concerns or concerns about others seeing the hair
72. Emotional difficulty associated with treatment
73. Treatment fatigue or feeling discouraged by the length of the process

74. Which one factor has had the greatest effect on your ability to begin or continue electrolysis?

Other
75. Have you ever delayed, reduced, paused, or stopped electrolysis because of one or more of these barriers?
76. Please briefly explain what affected your ability to continue treatment.
Satisfaction and Overall Impact
77. What is your overall satisfaction with your electrolysis experience?
78. What is your overall satisfaction with your electrolysis progress?
79. To what extent have your expectations for electrolysis been met?
80. Compared with before beginning electrolysis, how has electrolysis changed your life?
81. Please tell us why you selected that answer
82. How likely are you to recommend electrolysis to someone with similar hair-removal needs?
Laser Hair Removal Experience
Have you ever had laser hair removal?
Respondents who answer “No” should skip to the next section.
84. Which area or areas did you treat with laser hair removal?

Other
85. Approximately how many laser hair-removal sessions have you received?
86. Overall, how satisfied were you with your laser hair-removal experience?

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement:

Rows	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree	Not Applicable
87. Laser hair removal improved my confidence.
88. Laser hair removal reduced my distress related to unwanted hair.
89. Laser hair removal produced results that met my expectations.
90. The results of laser hair removal lasted as long as I expected.
91. I experienced hair regrowth after laser hair removal.
92. I later sought electrolysis for hair that remained or returned after laser hair removal.

93. Which treatment has had the greater positive impact on your quality of life?
94. Which treatment has had the greater positive impact on your confidence or emotional well-being?
95. Please briefly describe how your experience with laser hair removal differed from your experience with electrolysis.
Final Reflections
96. What has been the most meaningful positive impact of electrolysis for you?
97. What has been the most difficult part of your electrolysis journey?
98. What do you wish healthcare providers, insurers, or policymakers better understood about unwanted hair and electrolysis?
99. Is there anything else you would like to share about the psychological or emotional impact of unwanted hair or electrolysis?
Should be Empty:

Psychological Impact of Unwanted Hair and Electrolysis Survey

Demographics & Treatment Details

Impact of Unwanted Hair Before Electrolysis

Gender-Related Impact of Unwanted Hair

Personal Impact of Electrolysis Since Beginning Treatment

Gender-Related Impact of Electrolysis

Treatment Burden and Value

Barriers to Beginning or Continuing Electrolysis

Satisfaction and Overall Impact

Laser Hair Removal Experience

Final Reflections