title: Assessing the impact of self-efficacy beliefs on adaptation to rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: This article examines the influence of self-efficacy beliefs on problem-solving coping, functional disability, and psychological well-being for 101 recently diagnosed adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of psychosocial adaptation to the onset of RA. Self-efficacy beliefs were associated with less functional disability assessed concurrently and 1 year later. Self-efficacy beliefs were also associated with greater use of problem-solving coping 1 year later. There was an interaction between pain and self-efficacy beliefs in the prediction of depression 1 year later: at low pain, self-efficacy beliefs were unrelated to depression, but at higher levels of pain, greater self-efficacy was related to greater depression. Finally, problem-solving coping mediated the relationship between disability and initial self-efficacy beliefs. The distinct patterns that emerge for pain, self-efficacy beliefs, and coping, with respect to functional status as compared to psychological status, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schiaffino
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Revenson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibofsky
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy