Body Image, Medication Use, and Mental Health among Women with Fibromyalgia in Flanders, Belgium
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15495446 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Roel Van Overmeire (0000-0003-3127-5683, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, corresponding author), Lara Vesentini (0000-0002-4707-9380, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Stephanie Vanclooster (0000-0002-5642-7711, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Emilie Muysewinkel (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Johan Bilsen (0000-0001-8371-4612, Vrije Universiteit Brussel) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 1418-1418 |
| Publication date | 2022-01-27 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph19031418 |
| PMID | 35162441 |
| OpenAlex | W4210690612 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 21 |
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic illness that does not have clear physical consequences, yet research shows that FM patients often have a low body image. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Flanders, Belgium, among FM women who are connected to the Flemish League for fibromyalgia patients. An adjusted Body Image Scale (BIS) was used to assess body image, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was used for mental health, and the Visual Analogue Scale Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (VASFIQ) was used for FM symptoms. Medication use was assessed by using a 4-point Likert scale. Time since diagnosis and age was assessed. A total of 103 women with FM responded. Linear regression showed that BIS was best predicted in a model by using VASFIQ, GHQ-12, time since diagnosis, and sleep medication, wherein only the GHQ-12 was significant as a variable (B = 0.292; p = 0.009). This model explained 19.3% of the variance. The role of sleep medication use disappeared when controlling for mental health. Mental health was more clearly associated with body image than medication use, or even fibromyalgia symptoms. Thus, having negative mental health is associated with a negative body image. In order to improve the body image of FM patients, symptom control alone is not enough; improving mental health is equally important
Fibromyalgia · General Health Questionnaire · Mental health · Physical therapy · Psychiatry · Visual analogue scale · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
| Citations per year | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |