The Impact of Fibromyalgia on Employment Status of Newly-Diagnosed Young Women: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: To describe employment loss in young women with newly diagnosed fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and to identify variables that may explain early loss of employment.

Methods: In this pilot studsy, 94 young women [18–39 years old] in the United States [USA] and Sweden completed demographics, global rating scales, and standardized questionnaires, including the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36 General Health Subscale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales II Social Support Subscale, and Job Flexibility Scale, three times during the first 12 to 15 months after diagnosis.

Results: At the time of diagnosis, 60 percent were in paid employment [USA 71 percent, Sweden 49 percent]. When the participants entered the study, within three months of diagnosis, only 46 percent were working [USA 56 percent, Sweden 37 percent]. Twelve months later, 41 percent were working [USA 55 percent, Sweden 28 percent]. Younger age, poorer physical functioning, and lower self-efficacy for pain management along with higher symptom interference with ability to do any work, and pain severity predicted unemployment with 75 percent accuracy.

Conclusions: An early and notable decrease in the percentage of young women diagnosed with FMS and working in paid employment was seen in this pilot study. Because most of the job loss was associated with FMS symptoms, a larger study of strategies to control or ameliorate these symptoms in the work setting should be undertaken.

KEYWORDS:

• Fibromyalgia
• women
• employment
• disability
• outcomes