The role of spousal relationships in fibromyalgia patients’ quality of life

Ellen R. Huang, Kim D. Jones, Rob M. Bennett, Gordon C.Nagayama Hall, Karen S. Lyons

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    9 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome that includes debilitating symptoms such as widespread pain and tenderness, fatigue, and poor physical functioning. Research has shown FM patients’ choice of coping style and relationship quality with their spouse can impact their mental quality of life (QoL), but no known study has examined the protective nature of relationship quality and coping behaviors on both patient physical and mental QoL in the context of chronic pain. We examined 204 patients with FM on the (a) roles of coping styles and relationship quality on patient quality of life, and (b) moderating effect of relationship quality on the association between negative coping style and patient QoL. A series of multiple regressions found patients’ coping styles were not significantly associated with physical QoL, but were significantly associated with mental QoL. Patients’ relationship quality with their spouse was significantly associated with mental QoL, but not physical QoL and no significant interactions with negative coping style were found. Our results emphasize the importance of coping styles and relationship quality between patients and their spouses in the context of chronic pain. Clinicians can incorporate the patient’s relationship as part of a more holistic approach to care and improving outcomes.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)987-995
    Number of pages9
    JournalPsychology, Health and Medicine
    Volume23
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 14 2018

    Keywords

    • Fibromyalgia
    • coping style
    • quality of life
    • relationship
    • spouse

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Clinical Psychology
    • Applied Psychology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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