title: The role of goal management for successful adaptation to arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Persons with polyarthritis often experience difficulties in attaining personal goals due to disease symptoms such as pain, fatigue and reduced mobility. This study examines the relationship of goal management strategies - goal maintenance, goal adjustment, goal disengagement, goal reengagement - with indicators of adaptation to polyarthritis, namely, depression, anxiety, purpose in life, positive affect, participation, and work participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  305 patients diagnosed with polyarthritis participated in a questionnaire study (62% female, 29% employed, mean age: 62 years). Hierarchical multiple-regression-analyses were conducted to examine the relative importance of the goal management strategies for adaptation. Self-efficacy in relation to goal management was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all adaptation indicators, the goal management strategies added substantial explained variance to the models (R(2): .07-.27). Goal maintenance and goal adjustment were significant predictors of adaptation to polyarthritis. Self-efficacy partly mediated the influence of goal management strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Goal management strategies were found to be important predictors of successful adaptation to polyarthritis. Overall, adjusting goals to personal ability and circumstances and striving for goals proved to be the most beneficial strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Designing interventions that focus on the effective management of goals may help people to adapt to polyarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Centre Twente, The Netherlands. r.y.arends@utwente.nl
authors.forename: Roos Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Arends
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taal
authors.forename: Mart A F J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Van de Laar
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D019468:Disease Management; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adaptation; Adjustment; Arthritis; Chronic disease; Depression; Goal management strategies; Quality of life; Threatened goals