Social participation in early and established rheumatoid arthritis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with different levels of restriction in social participation differ in disease related as well as psychosocial variables and whether a similar pattern can be found among early and established RA patients.


METHODS
Two samples of RA patients with early (n = 97; age = 53 ± 12.3 years; disease duration = 2.8 ± 1.2 years; 76% women) and established (n = 143; age = 58 ± 10.3 years; disease duration = 16.1 ± 3.6 years; 86% women) were collected. The pattern of differences for the patients with different level of participation restriction (no restriction, mild, moderate or high restriction) was explored by the Jonckheere-Terpstra test.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found between patients with different levels of social participation restrictions in both samples in pain, fatigue, functional disability, anxiety, depression and mastery. Generally, it was found that patients with higher restrictions experienced more pain and fatigue, more anxiety and depression and reported lower mastery. Similar pattern of differences concerning disease activity and self-esteem was found mainly in the established group.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that the level of perceived restrictions in social participation are highly relevant regarding the disease related variables such as pain, fatigue and functional disability as well as psychological status and personal resources in both early and established RA.


CONCLUSIONS
Supporting involvement and participation of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis is important for decreasing the impact of RA symptoms on everyday life. Recognition and empowerment of individual resources such a mastery and self-esteem of RA patients could be beneficial for overcoming restrictions in participation.
a Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .|b Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology, Faculty of Arts , Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .
Jozef
J
Benka
a Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .|c Department of Social Medicine, Medical Faculty , Institute of Public Health, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .
Iveta
I
Nagyova
a Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .|d Transplantation Department , University Hospital Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .
Jaroslav
J
Rosenberger
e Faculty of Medicine, 3rd Internal Clinic, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .
Zelmira
Z
Macejova
f Faculty of Medicine, 1st Internal Clinic, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic , and.
Ivica
I
Lazurova
g Department of Community & Occupational Health , University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands.
Jac L L
JL
van der Klink
g Department of Community & Occupational Health , University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands.
Johan W
JW
Groothoff
a Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University Kosice , Kosice , Slovak Republic .|g Department of Community & Occupational Health , University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands.
Jitse P
JP
van Dijk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018154:Slovakia; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Anxiety; depression; functional disability; participation; rheumatoid arthritis