Exploring the Relationship between Fibromyalgia-Related Fatigue, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life

Marcos C. Alvarez, Maria Luiza L. Albuquerque, Henrique P. Neiva, Luis Cid, Filipe Rodrigues, Diogo S. Teixeira, Rui Matos, Raúl Antunes, Verónica Morales-Sánchez and Diogo Monteiro
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Marcos C. Alvarez: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Maria Luiza L. Albuquerque: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Henrique P. Neiva: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Luis Cid: Research Center in Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Trás os Montes and Alto Douro University, 5000-558 Vila Real, Portugal
Filipe Rodrigues: Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal
Diogo S. Teixeira: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Lusófona University (ULHT/FEFD), 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal
Rui Matos: Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal
Raúl Antunes: Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), 2400-901 Leiria, Portugal
Verónica Morales-Sánchez: Department of Social Psychology, Social Work, Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies, Faculty of Psychology, Malaga University, 29003 Malaga, Spain
Diogo Monteiro: Research Center in Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Trás os Montes and Alto Douro University, 5000-558 Vila Real, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The symptoms of fibromyalgia are varied, including general muscle pain and pain at specific points (also called tender points), excessive fatigue, anxiety, depression, and some psychological problems that can have a negative impact on quality of life. Physical activity is a widely used option by health professionals to alleviate the effects of this syndrome. However, there is no clear information on the possible mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between fibromyalgia-related fatigue and quality of life. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between fibromyalgia-related fatigue and quality of life, and to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in patients with this syndrome. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 237 Portuguese women aged 28 to 75 years (M = 49.12; SD ± 8.87) and 117 Brazilian women aged 20 to 69 years (M = 46.72; SD ± 8.38) were recruited to participate in this study. These patients completed three valid and reliable questionnaires related to the assessment of fibromyalgia-related fatigue (MDF-Fibro-17), physical activity (IPAQ), and quality of life (SF-36). Results: Both samples had scores above the midpoint for all dimensions of fibromyalgia-related fatigue and scores below the midpoint for quality of life. Physical activity had no mediating effect in either sample, as the total indirect effect was not significant. Conclusions: Physical activity does not mediate the relationship between fatigue and quality of life. However, the results also show that the fatigue dimensions associated with fibromyalgia had a negative and significant association with physical and mental health indicators in both samples. Thus, patients with FM with higher scores on fatigue-related symptoms might suffer more from physical and mental health, both of which are related to quality of life.

Keywords: fibromyalgia; quality of life; fatigue; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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