Date of Graduation

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The impact of fibromyalgia on quality of life is well documented. Quality of life issues confront individuals with fibromyalgia daily. For these individuals, coping with the challenges to obtain effective treatment, can become a daunting process. Feeling a sense of control over their condition is important to sustaining a reasonable quality of life. The purpose of this study was to test a theoretically based model describing the factors that influence quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia. The theoretical (hypothesized) model suggested that impact of fibromyalgia, emotional expressivity, locus of control, and coping process, all influenced quality of life. A one-time survey was conducted which included a measure of fibromyalgia impact, measures of locus of control and coping process, measures of emotional expressivity and quality of life, and the gathering of demographic information from participants. Path analysis, using multiple linear regression, was used to examine the fit between the theoretical model and data from the sample of 122 individuals: 115 females and 7 males. Seven hypothesized paths were significant. The model fit the data and accounted for 70% of the variance in quality of life with fibromyalgia having the greatest influence. This analysis suggests that fibromyalgia impact, locus of control, and coping process are key dimensions of quality of life. In spite of higher levels of fibromyalgia impact on quality of life, participants demonstrated a problem-focused coping and an internal locus of control regardless of the degree of fibromyalgia impact on quality of life. Fibromyalgia and emotional expressivity, although significantly correlated, had minimal influence in the path model. With a focus on improving quality of life, individuals with fibromyalgia may benefit from group counseling and other interventions that strengthens their coping capabilities and their ability to be self-directed.

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