title: Structural Equation Model of Disability in Low Back Pain.
abstract: METHODS
  The effects of participant characteristics along with descriptions of pain and psychological involvement, such as fear avoidance, were assessed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify relationships between these factors and disability as a result of low back pain (LBP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between factors related to pain description, participants' characteristics, psychological involvement, and disability through SEM.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  LBP is a complex multifactorial condition that can lead to disability. Understanding which factors contribute to disability and how those factors interact is important for predicting and minimizing disability in patients with LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from 156 participants (63% female) with LBP. A stepwise SEM was built with patient characteristics, pain intensity, depression, anxiety, and fear avoidance to predict disability in LBP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 23-84 years (49.7 ± 15.1 yrs) of age and experienced 0.03 to 300 months duration (25.5 ± 36.4 months) of current LBP. The final model explained 62% of the variance in disability and included female gender, full-time employment, depression, and fear avoidance beliefs as significant predictors. Full-time employment was the only significant predictor that reduced disability; all other significant predictors increased disability in the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the relationship between these predictors and disability provides a foundation for predicting and managing disability for individual patients who suffer from LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Brittany L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Information Management and Center for Health Informatics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moqbel
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan.
authors.forename: Saddam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanaan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Neena K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult