Not The Same Anymore: Predictors of Exacerbated Self-Image in Those With Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Presenter(s)

Valeria Bailey

Abstract or Description

INTRODUCTION: It is well known that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has negative impacts on self-identity, which is linked to exacerbated health and quality of life. It is therefore crucial to elucidate factors of exacerbated self-perception in those with RA. Toward expanding that literature, we hypothesized RA severity, RA unpredictability, limited functionality, decreased ability to work, often needing to change or cancel plans, difficulty having intimate or sexual relationships, and trouble participating in physical activities to be significant predictors of exacerbated self-perception due to RA. METHOD: Data was collected from 3856 respondents to a national survey of those with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States (M_age = 60.15 years, 94.3% female, 91.1% Caucasian). Predictors of exacerbated self-perception were analyzed via hierarchical linear regression with SPSS version 28. RESULTS: Although significant when entered in a model alone (=.811, p<.001), RA severity was no longer significant when entered in the full model (=.044, p=.354). The full model showed limited functionality due to RA (=.114, p<.001), decreased ability to work (=.115, p<.001), often needing to change or cancel plans (=.197, p<.001), difficulty having intimate or sexual relationships (=.165, p<.001) and trouble participating in physical activities (=.157, p=<.001) as significant predictors over and above RA unpredictability (=.127, p<.001), (R²=.390, F_7,3848=352.994, p<.001). DISCUSSION: In line with our hypotheses, all factors significantly predicted exacerbated self-perception, with the exception of RA severity when entered in the full model. This is intriguing as our results point toward decreased quality of life and functionality as stronger drivers of exacerbated self-perception, beyond RA severity alone. Future studies are encouraged to build on these results by examining mediational models to further elucidate the multi-factorial dynamic of RA and negative self-perception.