Sex differences in the relations of positive and negative daily events and fatigue in adults with rheumatoid arthritis.
Fatigue is a common, disabling symptom for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study 1) examined sex differences in the relations between daily changes in positive and negative interpersonal events and same-day and next-day fatigue and 2) tested positive affect and negative affect as mediators of the associations between changes in interpersonal events and fatigue. Reports of fatigue, number of positive and negative interpersonal events, and positive and negative affect were assessed daily for 30 days via diaries in 228 men and women diagnosed with RA. Days of higher than average daily positive events were associated with both decreased same-day fatigue and increased next-day fatigue, but only among women. Sex differences in same-day relations between positive events and fatigue were mediated by increases in positive affect. For both sexes, days of higher than average daily negative events related to increased same-day and next-day fatigue, and the same-day relations between negative events and fatigue were mediated by increases in negative affect. A more nuanced understanding of similarities and differences between men and women in the associations between changes in interpersonal events and fatigue may inform future interventions for RA fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
This article presents an examination of sex differences in the links between changes in daily interpersonal events and fatigue in chronic pain patients. The findings can help clinicians target the psychosocial factors that potentially can ameliorate their patients' experience of fatigue.
Davis
Mary C
MC
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA. Mary.davis@asu.edu
Okun
Morris A
MA
Kruszewski
Denise
D
Zautra
Alex J
AJ
Tennen
Howard
H
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Aug 15;51(4):578-85
15334430
Psychosom Med. 2001 Nov-Dec;63(6):966-72
11719636
Pain. 2007 Mar;128(1-2):128-35
17055648
Arthritis Care Res. 2000 Feb;13(1):33-41
11094924
Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 May;69(5):895-7
19854716
Res Nurs Health. 1997 Jun;20(3):195-204
9179174
Arthritis Care Res. 1990 Jun;3(2):65-70
2285744
Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Dec;41(12):2230-7
9870880
Am J Community Psychol. 1986 Dec;14(6):629-55
3799554
Pain. 1986 Oct;27(1):117-126
3785962
Arthritis Care Res. 1997 Jun;10(3):185-93
9335630
Psychosom Med. 2000 May-Jun;62(3):346-53
10845348
Ann Intern Med. 1998 Jan 15;128(2):127-37
9441573
Ann Rheum Dis. 1997 Apr;56(4):268-71
9166001
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1063-70
3397865
Pain. 1996 May-Jun;65(2-3):123-67
8826503
J Rheumatol. 1996 Aug;23(8):1407-17
8856621
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2006 Jul;45(7):885-9
16449363
J Pers. 2009 Jun;77(3):691-730
20078735
Scand J Rheumatol. 2002;31(1):27-31
11922197
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
3806354
J Health Psychol. 2005 May;10(3):457-74
15857874
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2004 Aug;87(2):228-45
15301629
Nurs Res. 1993 Mar-Apr;42(2):93-9
8455994
Health Psychol. 2008 Nov;27(6):694-702
19025264
Med Care. 1992 Jun;30(6):473-83
1593914
J Rheumatol. 2006 Aug;33(8):1496-502
16783859
J Pers. 2005 Dec;73(6):1511-38
16274444
J Psychosom Res. 1995 Apr;39(3):315-25
7636775
Pain. 2002 Nov;100(1-2):141-53
12435467
Brain Behav Immun. 2008 Jan;22(1):24-32
17706915