title: Effect of valued activity disability, social comparisons, and satisfaction with ability on depressive symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: This longitudinal study identified a model through which function affects the psychologicalwell-being of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Results of hierarchical linear regression analyses (N = 436) demonstrated that greater physical impairment resulted in greater disability in valued activities and engagement in unfavorable social comparisons. All 3 factors--greater physical impairment, greater disability in valued activities, and unfavorable comparison evaluations--predicted low satisfaction with abilities. Low satisfaction with abilities was the most important predictor of higher depressive symptoms and mediated the impact of physical impairment, valued activity disability, and unfavorable comparisons on depressive symptoms. Results highlight the role of personal meaning attached to changes in functional status in predicting the long-term psychological well-being of individuals with chronic illnesses such as RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0920, USA.
authors.forename: Alyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neugebauer
authors.forename: Patricia P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Lauri A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pasch
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support