Psychological Flexibility Is Key for Reducing the Severity and Impact of Fibromyalgia

Miguel A. Vallejo, Laura Vallejo-Slocker, Martin Offenbaecher, Jameson K. Hirsch, Loren L. Toussaint, Niko Kohls, Fuschia Sirois and Javier Rivera
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Miguel A. Vallejo: Psychology Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Laura Vallejo-Slocker: Psychology Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Martin Offenbaecher: Department of Orthopedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
Jameson K. Hirsch: Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
Loren L. Toussaint: Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101, USA
Niko Kohls: Division of Integrative Health Promotion, University of Applied Science and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany
Fuschia Sirois: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 2LT, UK
Javier Rivera: Rehumatology Unit, Instituto Provincial de Rehabilitación, Hospital General Universitario “Gregorio Marañón”, 28028 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-11

Abstract: Fibromyalgia has a significant impact on the lives of patients; symptoms are influenced by psychological factors, such as psychological flexibility and catastrophizing. The objective of this study was to determine the importance of these variables in moderating the association between the severity and impact of fibromyalgia symptoms. A total of 187 patients from a general hospital population were evaluated using the Combined Index of Severity of Fibromyalgia (ICAF), the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). A series of multiple regression analyses were carried out using the PROCESS macro and decision tree analysis. The results show that psychological flexibility modulates the relation between severity and the impact of fibromyalgia symptoms. Catastrophism has residual importance and depends on the interaction with psychological flexibility. Interaction occurs if the severity of the disease is in transition from a mild to a moderate level and accounts for 40.1% of the variance in the sample. These aspects should be considered for evaluation and early intervention in fibromyalgia patients.

Keywords: fibromyalgia; acceptance; psychological flexibility; catastrophizing; moderation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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