Adjustment to fibromyalgia: the role of domain-specific self-efficacy and acceptance

Abstract

Research in long-term conditions traditionally focuses on negative aspects of coping. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of positive factors such as selfefficacy and acceptance in the context of adjustment to fibromyalgia. The study employed a cross-sectional design using online questionnaires measuring self-efficacy, acceptance, kinesiophobia, coping, catastrophising, pain intensity and fibromyalgia impact. A total of 117 participants with fibromyalgia were recruited from fibromyalgia support-groups, organisations, and online forums. After controlling for other cognitive and demographic variables, pain self-efficacy remained a significant predictor of pain intensity (p=.003); symptom self-efficacy remained the best predictor of psychological fibromyalgia impact (p=.001); and function self-efficacy remained the best predictor of functional (p<.001) and total fibromyalgia impact (p<.001). However, the contribution of acceptance upon pain intensity and fibromyalgia impact was not significant. These results highlight the impact of different self-efficacy domains on pain intensity, and functional, psychological and total adjustment to fibromyalgia