Factors contributing to well-being: comparing functional somatic symptom disorders and well-defined autoimmune disorders, 2021, Hebert

[Dolphin]

https://web.archive.org/web/2021051.../wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021inpact027.pdf

Psychological Applications and Trends 2021


p-ISSN: 2184-2205 e-ISSN: 2184-3414 ISBN: 978-989-54815-5-2 © 2021

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO WELL-BEING: COMPARING FUNCTIONAL SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS AND WELL-DEFINED AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS

Kendra Hebert, & Lisa Best

Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB (Canada)

Functional somatic symptom disorders (FSSDs) are defined by persistent and chronic bodily complaints without a pathological explanation.

Mindfulness involves the focus on the present moment by noticing surroundings, thoughts, feelings, and events, being nonreactive, being non-judgemental, and self-accepting.

Psychological flexibility (PF) involves a focus on the present and the prioritization of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that align with individual values and goals (Francis et al., 2016).

Although PF does not involve a mindfulness practice, the two constructs are related. Research indicates consistent reported positive associations between mindfulness, PF, psychological wellbeing, and medical symptoms.

In this study, individuals with FSSDs (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome) were compared to those with well-defined autoimmune illnesses (multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis; AD) to determine how psychosocial factors affect wellness.

Participants (N = 609) were recruited from social media and online support groups and completed questionnaires to assess physical health (Chang et al., 2006), psychological wellness (Diener et al., 1985), anxiety (Spitzer et al., 2006), depression (Martin et al., 2006), psychological flexibility, (Francis et al., 2016) and mindfulness (Droutman et al., 2018].

Results indicated that having an FSSD and higher depression was associated with both lower physical and psychological wellness.

Interestingly, different aspects of psychological flexibility predicted physical and psychological wellness.

These results suggest that different aspects of PF are associated with better physical and psychological health.

As PF is modifiable, individuals with chronic conditions could receive training that could ultimately improve their overall health.

Keywords: Functional somatic symptom disorder, autoimmune disorder, well-being, mindfulness

 

[alktipping]

the propaganda machine grinds on and will continue to do so without some form of legal deterrent .

 

[Snow Leopard]

Convenience studies like this don't provide direct evidence about cause-effect relationships like this, yet that is what they are trying to suggest in the conclusion...

 

[Hutan]

Setting aside the major problem of the convenience sampling:

They say that there really was no difference between the two groups in mindfulness:

At the correlational level, there were no significant differences between the illness groups in mindfulness, except for the mindfulness subscale measuring being present and focusing on the current moment.

And psychological flexibility scores were similar between the two groups too.

Although psychological flexibility scores were similar for the individuals with FSS and AD, there were statistically significant relationships between many aspects of physical health, psychological distress, and subjective well-being.

Results indicated that having an FSSD and higher depression was associated with both lower physical and psychological wellness.

I didn't see this point in the discussion, but I note that the sentence says 'having an FSSD' and 'higher depression' is associated with both lower physical and psychological wellness. This is hardly surprising. The study found that the people with a functional somatic symptom disorder (CFS or FM) reported worse physical health, on average, than the people with an autoimmune disorder. Given that, those people with a functional somatic symptom disorder and high depression scores would naturally tend to have lower physical and psychological wellness scores than the people in the study who did not have both a functional somatic symptom disorder and high depression scores.

 

[Hoopoe]

Another day, another psychology paper acting as if correlation means causation.

 

[rvallee]

Another day, another psychology paper acting as if correlation means causation.

In one and only one direction, of course. The one requiring too many assumptions to even try to account for.

 

[Louie41]

Honestly! I hope no tree was killed to publish this dreck.

I have both ME and a well-defined autoimmune disorder The AD is child's play in comparison to ME!