PERSISTENT FATIGUE IN WELL WOMEN

Fatigue is the subjective report of a sustained sense of exhaustion wi th reduced motivation and capacity for physical and/or mental activity . Although factors associated with fatigue have been explored in speci fic patient populations, minimal study has been devoted to exploring b oth the magnitude of fatigue, and associated variables among women gen erally thought to be well. This cross-sectional, descriptive study exa mined the relationship of behavioral, sociodemographic, and emotional factors to subjective ratings of fatigue among women in the community who perceived themselves as being fatigued but otherwise healthy. A co nvenience sample of 155 adult women completed the Piper Fatigue Self-R eport Scale (PFS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and an investi gator-designed questionnaire that collected behavioral and socio-demog raphic data. Correlation and regression analyses were used with fatigu e as measuredby the PFS as the outcome variable. Statistically signifi cant relationships were noted between PFS and BDI scores as well as PF S and sleep pattern, rest quality, and perceived stress. Construction of a multiple regression model revealed an adjusted R(2) of.43 with th e BDI score serving as the major predictor variable for fatigue. Persi stent fatigue is a consistent element in the lives of many women. As s uch it can significantly undermine women's quality of life.