Self‐efficacy, pain, and physical activity among fibromyalgia subjects

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self‐efficacy on self‐report pain and physical activities among subjects with fibromyalgia (FM). In addition, descriptive statistics of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS), a measure developed for use with arthritis patients, were reported. Methods. Seventy‐nine subjects with FM, as classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, completed the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain, the AIMS, and the Arthritis Self‐Efficacy Scale. A myalgic score was obtained during a tender point evaluation. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to assess the effect of self‐efficacy on self‐report pain and physical activities measures after controlling for demographic variables (age, education, and symptom duration), disease severity (myalgic scores), and psychological distress (negative affect from the AIMS). Results. Higher self‐efficacy was associated with less pain and less impairment on the physical activities measure after controlling for demographic and disease severity measures. Conclusions. This study underscores the unique importance of self‐efficacy in understanding pain and physical activities impairment.

Influence of Cognitive and Affective Variables in Stress, Functional Limitation and Symptoms in Fibromyalgia

“…Thus, the use of these resources would reduce functional limitation. In this regard, previous studies have demonstrated the influence of these variables on physical functioning in FM (Buckelew et al 1995;Culos-Reed & Brawley, 2003;Fontaine et al, 2010), and various treatment programs have mentioned that self-efficacy is fundamental to predict physical functioning (Buckelew et al, 1995;Oliver & Cronan, 2002;Rivera et al 2004;Schachter et al, 2003). The presence of positive emotions and cognitive resources reflect better physical functioning and reduced clinical symptoms in fibromyalgia (Arnold et al, 2006;Hassett et al, 2000;Porter-Moffitt et al 2006;Suhr, 2003).…”

“…In this sense, lower selfefficacy regarding symptoms lead to greater negative affect which in turn affect functional limitation. Previous studies have established a relationship between self-efficacy for pain and functional limitation (Buckelew et al 1995;Jegede, 2006;Martin-Aragon et al, 2001M Mueller et al 2003Oliver & Cronan, 2002;Theadom et al, 2007;Velasco et al, 2008), although they did not include affect as a mediating variable. Functional capacity is a major source of concern in patients with FM as they face limitations in carrying out different activities, especially in activities of daily life which they regard as fundamental.…”

“…Thus, the www.intechopen.com belief that one's illness or behavior is determined by external agents, in this case by others or by one's own fate or destiny, increases the stress response in their emotional and physiological modalities. Different studies have shown the positive role of self-efficacy for over pain and over symptoms associated with FM (Buckelew et al, 1995, Martin-Aragon et al, 2001, Menzies et al, 2006Miró, 1994), among them stress. It seems that our data support the idea that low pain self-efficacy predicts the evaluated stress responses.…”

“…Furthermore, the specific self-efficacy necessary for the activities predicts the physical activity and functioning of these patients (Culos-Reed, 2001). Different treatment programs of an inter-disciplinary or cognitive-behavioral nature have demonstrated the necessity of working with self-efficacy expectations to diminish the symptoms and pain associated with FM (Aspegren et al, 2000;Bailey et al, 1999;Buckelew et al, 1995;1996;Lera et al, 2009;Schachter et al, 2003;White & Nielson, 1995).…”

“…Culos-Reed & Brawley, 2003), and individuals with lower selfefficacy show limitations in their ability to perform everyday tasks required or adaptation to FM. On the other hand, higher levels of pain self-efficacy has been related with better improvement on treatment (Buckelew et al, 1996;Martin et al, 1996;Schachter et al, 2003;Wells-Federman et al, 2003), higher satisfaction levels (Serber et al, 2003), lower pain intensity, less associated symptoms, less functional limitation and psychological distress (Buckelew et al, 1995;Martín-Aragón et al, 2001;Menzies et al, 2006;Miró, 1994;Oliver & Cronan, 2002). Also, self-efficacy is a predictor of physical activity in FM patients (CulosReed & Brawley, 2003;Culos-Reed, 2001) and has also been related to a better stress/recovery balance, increasing satisfactory experiences and the involvement in social activities (González-Gutiérrez et al, 2009).…”