Extraversion in women with fibromyalgia as a predictor of better prognosis: an intervention model in dance movement therapy

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between extraversion, the ability to identify emotions in observed movement and quality of life (QoL), among women with and without fibromyalgia (FM). The sample was 50 adult women. Participants were asked to fill out Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, NEO Five Factor Inventory, Short Form 36 Health Survey, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and demographic questionnaire, were shown video clips of body movements and were asked to identify the emotion. The results showed that extraversion was positively correlated with the identification of happiness among FM patients and with QoL. A correlation was found between the ability to identify ‘happiness’ and ahigher perceived QoL. FM patients who showed ahigher level of extraversion identified happiness better than those who were not found to be extraverted. It can be assumed that expression of emotion using dance/movement therapy, which activates mirror neurons, will increase empathic abilities. Results led to the building of a therapeutic intervention model based on the practical implications of the findings.

KEYWORDS:

• fibromyalgia
• extraversion
• dance movement therapy
• quality of life
• emotion identification
• happiness

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the interviewers and the rheumatology clinic in Sheba Medical Center and Haifa University for their cooperation and help.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dita Federman

Dita Federman, Ph.D., Senior researcher, lecturer and supervisor, School of Creative Art Therapies, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, Emili Sagol CAT Research Center, University of Haifa, Israel.

Ravit Maltz Schwartz

Ravit Maltz Schwartz, Graduate School of Creative Arts Therapies, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel. [email protected]

Howard Amital

Howard Amital, Prof., Head of Department of Medicine ‘B’, and Autoimmunity Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel