Abstract
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.
Perspective
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.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 10, 2010
Accepted:
March 12,
2010
Received in revised form:
March 1,
2010
Received:
October 26,
2009
Footnotes
Supported by a grant from the National Institute of Musculoskeletal, Immune, and Skin Disease (R01 AR41687, Alex Zautra, PI) and a grant from the Arthritis Foundation (Howard Tennen, PI).
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
