The Impact of Perceived Physical Dysfunction, Health-Related Habits, and Affective Symptoms on Employment Status Among Fibromyalgia Support Group Members

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the impact of perceived physical limitation, affective symptoms, pain, and lifestyle habits on employment status among members of a fibromyalgia support association.

Methods: Three hundred and twenty-two female members of the Fibromyalgia Association in two Norwegian counties were surveyed. Perceived limitations of physical function, habits of daily living, affective symptoms, and current work status were assessed by brief validated instruments. The dependent variable, employment status, was dichotomized as employed or unemployed. When testing the effects of perceived physical function limitations on employment status, structured hierarchical regression analyses were executed blockwise to eliminate confounding effects from lifestyle habits and affective symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

Results: The subject's perceived physical limitation was the best measure at predicting employment status. Affective symptoms contributed significantly, but weakly, to employment status. There was no apparent contribution from lifestyle habits or perceived pain.

Conclusion: The results of this study of people who belong to a fibromyalgia support organization highlight the importance of perceived physical limitations in their ability to maintain employment. It is somewhat surprising that the data failed to support a role for lifestyle habits or pain.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• depression
• employment
• fibromyalgia
• lifestyle
• dysfunction