Relevance of Religiosity for Coping Strategies and Disability in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

Coping strategies are essential for the outcome of chronic pain. This study evaluated religiosity in a cohort of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), its effect on pain and other symptoms, on coping and FMS-related disability. A total of 102 FMS patients were recruited who filled in questionnaires, a subgroup of 42 patients participated in a face-to-face interview, and data were evaluated by correlation and regression analyses. Few patients were traditionally religious, but the majority believed in a higher existence and described their spirituality as “transcendence conviction”. The coping strategy “praying–hoping” and the ASP dimension “religious orientation” (r = 0.5, P < 0.05) showed a significant relationship independent of the grade of religiosity (P < 0.05). A high grade of belief in a higher existence was negatively associated with the choice of ignoring as coping strategy (r = − 0.4, P < 0.05). Mood and affect-related variables had the highest impact on disability (b = 0.5, P < 0.05). In this cohort, the grade of religiosity played a role in the choice of coping strategies, but had no effects on health and mood outcome.

The Spiritual Aspect of Pain: An Integrative Review

“…The main pain disorders addressed by the studies include fibromyalgia (Braun et al, 2022 ), osteoarthritis (Booker et al, 2020 ; Yu et al, 2016 ) along with pain in the chronic back (Hatefi et al, 2019 ), musculoskeletal (Najem et al, 2021 ) and head (Feuille & Pargament, 2013 ). They also include entities that cause pain such as cancer (Büssing et al, 2013 ).…”

“…They also include entities that cause pain such as cancer (Büssing et al, 2013 ). Three of the reviewed papers focus on pain self-efficacy/self-control (Asadi-Piri et al, 2021 ; Lee et al, 2014 ; Vasigh et al, 2020 ) and 2 on interference with life or disability that causes pain (Braun et al, 2022 ; Harris et al, 2018 ), while one of them focuses on quality of life (Shropshire et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Finally, the fields where the analyzes were implemented were university hospitals/health centers (Asadi-Piri et al, 2021 ; Braun et al, 2022 ; Hasenfratz et al, 2021 ; Hatefi et al, 2019 ; Vasigh et al, 2020 ; Yu et al, 2016 ), pain management clinics (Büssing et al, 2013 ; Harris et al, 2018 ; Rettke et al, 2021 ; Snell et al, 2019 ) and residences (Shropshire et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Patient dissatisfaction with the physician's attention to these needs is related to increased pain and depression. The main facilitator was the individual disposition of the doctor to listen with openness and empathy to the existential concerns of his patients Asadi-Piri et al ( 2021 ), Iran To investigate the relationship between pain self-efficacy and spirituality among older adults with chronic pain in Iran Cross-sectional descriptive observational study n = 145 Spirituality Well-Being Scale-SWBS and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire-PSE The correlation between pain self-efficacy and the religious dimension was stronger than its correlation with the existential dimension; however, this difference was not statistically significant Booker et al ( 2020 ), USA Expand understanding of personal experience managing osteoarthritis (OA) pain in older African Americans Qualitative study n = 18 [Afro-Americans ≥ 50 age Semi-structured interview (ad hoc script) The concept of "bearing pain" is an expression and experience of living with chronic osteoarthritis pain that comprises 3 core actions: adapting to pain, sharing pain with others, and trusting God as a healer Braun et al ( 2022 ), Germany To assess religiosity in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. (FMS), its effect on pain and other symptoms, and on coping and FMS-related disability Mixed study n = 102 [patients with fibromyalgia syndrome] Medical records, ad hoc interviews, Aspects of Spirituality questionnaire.…”

The impact of physical activity on the quality of life of a sample of Italian people with physical disability

“…In this case, sedentary individuals tend to rely more on religious faith and to be more satisfied with it than physically active people, which suggests that the two groups employ different coping strategies. In fact, we can assume that while for physically active people, physical activity represents a major coping strategy, and for sedentary individuals, religiosity and spirituality may function as important resilience-driving factors ( 26 , 27 ).…”