title: Deconstructing post-exertional malaise: An exploratory factor analysis.
abstract: Post-exertional malaise is a cardinal symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. There are two differing focuses when defining post-exertional malaise: a generalized, full-body fatigue and a muscle-specific fatigue. This study aimed to discern whether post-exertional malaise is a unified construct or whether it is composed of two smaller constructs, muscle fatigue and generalized fatigue. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted on several symptoms that assess post-exertional malaise. The results suggest that post-exertional malaise is composed of two empirically different experiences, one for generalized fatigue and one for muscle-specific fatigue.
authors.affiliation: DePaul University, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McManimen
authors.affiliation: DePaul University, USA.
authors.forename: Madison L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sunnquist
authors.affiliation: DePaul University, USA.
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005080:Exercise Test; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: chronic fatigue syndrome; factor analysis; myalgic encephalomyelitis; operationalization; post-exertional malaise