Functioning with fibromyalgia: The role of psychological flexibility and general psychological acceptance

Abstract

Objectives Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, mood disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. Psychological flexibility (PF), particularly acceptance of pain, has been associated with the physical and psychological functioning (functional status) of chronic pain patients. Further investigation is required to assess the unique contribution of PF model components to functional status in people with fibromyalgia. This study investigated the role of both pain‐related PF and general acceptance of psychological experiences in a fibromyalgia sample after accounting for self‐efficacy beliefs, the use of traditional pain management strategies, and demographic variables. Methods Participants with fibromyalgia (n = 339; 95% female) were recruited primarily from fibromyalgia social media‐based support groups and support services. Participants completed an online questionnaire measuring PF components, self‐efficacy, traditional pain management strategies, and functional status. Results Pain‐related PF, general psychological acceptance, and self‐efficacy were significantly related to functional status, with higher levels of these variables associated with higher functioning. Use of traditional pain management strategies was not significantly related to functional status. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated pain‐related PF explained a statistically significant but small (2%) amount of variance in functional status over and above self‐efficacy, traditional pain management strategies, and demographic variables. General psychological acceptance explained a further significant 2% of unique variance in functional status. Conclusions Pain‐related PF and general psychological acceptance added benefit to functioning of individuals with fibromyalgia. Nevertheless, this additional benefit was small, suggesting other psychological variables such as self‐efficacy may be more clinically relevant to functioning with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia as a Heterogeneous Condition: Subgroups of Patients Based on Physical Symptoms and Cognitive-Affective Variables Related to Pain

“…Taking into account the most dysfunctional profile represented by Group 1, the low pain acceptance seems to be a relevant variable linked to severity of FM, which is in line with previous research (e.g., Lami et al, 2018;Tangen et al, 2020;Trainor et al, 2019). However, beyond the low pain acceptance, other processes of psychological inflexibility may be involved in FM experience.…”

“…Pain acceptance is defined as the willingness to live with pain with no need to try to change it (Thompson & McCracken, 2011) and evidence suggests that contributes in a powerful way to developing a more constructive pain experience. In FM patients several studies found that pain acceptance was associated with lower emotional distress and disability (Lami et al, 2018), and better functional level and less symptoms (Tangen et al, 2020), and that pain-related psychological flexibility and general psychological acceptance were related to functional status (Trainor et al, 2019). Surprisingly, despite this evidence, no study has considered pain acceptance as a variable of interest in the configuration of FM subgroups.…”

The Role of Pain Catastrophizing and Pain Acceptance in Performance-Based and Self-Reported Physical Functioning in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Obesity

“…Research has repeatedly shown that pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance are important predictors of self-reported physical functioning in samples with acute [ 104 , 105 ] and chronic pain [ 105 , 106 ], including FM [ 41 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 ]. Our findings are consistent with the previous evidence.…”

Does the Rural Environment Influence Symptomatology and Optimize the Effectiveness of Disease Acceptance? A Study Among Women With Fibromyalgia

“…In patients with fibromyalgia specifically, the previous literature is consistent with the positive role of acceptance in the suffering ( Tangen et al, 2020 ). In this vein, it seems that accepting the disease reduces the levels of anxiety, depression and pain and improves the functioning of these women ( Rodero et al, 2011 ; Yu et al, 2017 ; Lami et al, 2018 ; Trainor et al, 2019 ).…”