TY - JOUR
T1 - Well-being and Perceived Stigma in Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia
T2 - A Daily Diary Study
AU - Van Alboom, Maité
AU - De Ruddere, Lies
AU - Kindt, Sara
AU - Loeys, Tom
AU - Van Ryckeghem, Dimitri
AU - Bracke, Piet
AU - Mittinty, Manasi M.
AU - Goubert, Liesbet
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Introduction: The presence or absence of clearly defined symptoms and underlying pathophysiology may be a crucial variable related to variability in well-being and stigmatization in individuals with chronic pain (ICPs). In the context of pain, absence of clearly defined symptoms and pathophysiology deviates from the widely endorsed biomedical model and as such, may lead to stigmatization, which in turn could be related to ICPs' well-being. Objectives: The present study compared physical, psychological, social well-being, and perceived stigmatization in individuals with clearly defined symptoms and underlying pathophysiology (rheumatoid arthritis, RA) and individuals with less well understood symptoms and pathophysiology (fibromyalgia, FM) using daily diaries. Furthermore, the association between daily perceived stigmatization and daily well-being was examined. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine participants with FM, 86 participants with RA, and 33 participants with both diagnoses completed a diary for 14 consecutive days. Results: Compared to individuals with RA, individuals with FM and individuals with both diagnoses reported worse daily well-being. After controlling for age, pain duration, and daily pain, differences between FM and RA remained significant for social well-being and completion of plans. Differences between RA and the dual diagnosis group remained significant for completion of plans, negative affect, and isolation. Furthermore, results suggested more stigmatization in individuals with FM than in individuals with RA. Individuals with both diagnoses reported equal stigmatization as individuals with FM, but more stigmatization than individuals with RA. Finally, increased levels of perceived stigma were associated with lower well-being. Discussion: Findings highlight that the absence of clearly defined symptoms and pathophysiology could be contributing to greater feelings of stigmatization, which may be detrimental for ICPs' well-being.
AB - Introduction: The presence or absence of clearly defined symptoms and underlying pathophysiology may be a crucial variable related to variability in well-being and stigmatization in individuals with chronic pain (ICPs). In the context of pain, absence of clearly defined symptoms and pathophysiology deviates from the widely endorsed biomedical model and as such, may lead to stigmatization, which in turn could be related to ICPs' well-being. Objectives: The present study compared physical, psychological, social well-being, and perceived stigmatization in individuals with clearly defined symptoms and underlying pathophysiology (rheumatoid arthritis, RA) and individuals with less well understood symptoms and pathophysiology (fibromyalgia, FM) using daily diaries. Furthermore, the association between daily perceived stigmatization and daily well-being was examined. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine participants with FM, 86 participants with RA, and 33 participants with both diagnoses completed a diary for 14 consecutive days. Results: Compared to individuals with RA, individuals with FM and individuals with both diagnoses reported worse daily well-being. After controlling for age, pain duration, and daily pain, differences between FM and RA remained significant for social well-being and completion of plans. Differences between RA and the dual diagnosis group remained significant for completion of plans, negative affect, and isolation. Furthermore, results suggested more stigmatization in individuals with FM than in individuals with RA. Individuals with both diagnoses reported equal stigmatization as individuals with FM, but more stigmatization than individuals with RA. Finally, increased levels of perceived stigma were associated with lower well-being. Discussion: Findings highlight that the absence of clearly defined symptoms and pathophysiology could be contributing to greater feelings of stigmatization, which may be detrimental for ICPs' well-being.
KW - chronic pain
KW - fibromyalgia
KW - rheumatoid arthritis
KW - stigma
KW - well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104160167&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000929
DO - 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000929
M3 - Article
C2 - 33734147
AN - SCOPUS:85104160167
SN - 0749-8047
VL - 37
SP - 349
EP - 358
JO - Clinical Journal of Pain
JF - Clinical Journal of Pain
IS - 5
ER -