Stress caused by rheumatoid arthritis: relation among subjective stressors of the disease, disease status, and well-being

Two integrated studies, examining the chronic stressors specific to the disease rheumatoid arthritis, are described. Pain, limitation, and dependence were rated as the most annoying chronic stressors of the disease. Pain was measured with the Visual Analog Scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Bo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of behavioral medicine 1993-06, Vol.16 (3), p.309-321
Main Authors: VAN LANKVELD, W, NÄRING, G, VAN DER STAAK, C, VAN'T PAD BOSCH, P, VAN DE PUTTE, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living - psychology
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Cost of Illness
Disability Evaluation
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Illness and personality
Male
Middle Aged
Psychology and medicine
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Quality of Life
Sick Role
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Summary:Two integrated studies, examining the chronic stressors specific to the disease rheumatoid arthritis, are described. Pain, limitation, and dependence were rated as the most annoying chronic stressors of the disease. Pain was measured with the Visual Analog Scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Both pain scores were only weakly related to the medical assessment variables. New scales were developed to measure perceived limitation and dependence. Perceived limitation was inversely related to both mobility and self-care, but this association was not strong. Perceived dependence was unrelated to any of the health status measures. All three stressors were associated with indicators of quality of life even after controlling for interaction with clinical assessment and functional status variables. It was concluded from these studies that patients with rheumatoid arthritis must cope simultaneously with pain, limitation, and dependence.
ISSN:0160-7715
1573-3521
DOI:10.1007/bf00844762