Promoting Social Participation for Adults Through Arthritis Self-Management: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

The focus of this study was to determine how a self-management program impacted social participation and social roles in clients living with arthritis. Ten participants over the age of 50, with arthritis, participated in the 6-week Arthritis Foundation's Self-Help Program conducted by a team of occupational therapy students and faculty researcher. Related pre- and postsurveys were administered to participants to measure self-efficacy behaviors, social roles, social participation, and energy and level of fatigue. Based on participants’ responses, increased levels of participation in social activities and expansion of social roles following the program implementation were evident. The results of this study suggest a potential connection between self-efficacy, self-management programs, and participation in social contexts for persons living with arthritis. Occupational therapists and other professionals should conduct further research on this topic to validate the importance and means of enhancing social roles and social engagement of clients living with arthritis.

KEYWORDS. :

• Arthritis
• self-management programs
• self-efficacy
• social participation
• social roles