Quality of life and sense of coherence in people with arthritis

This study investigated the physical and psychological impact of arthritis on people's quality of life. A range of variables were examined in a sample of 375 participants who comprised three groups: people with arthritis rece iving a support-based service from the Arthritis Foundation of Victoria, pe ople with arthritis receiving standard treatment, and a group of people fro m the general population. The results revealed that the two arthritis group s reported a significantly higher level of functional impairment, pain, and negative affectivity, and lowered mood, positive affect, and Sense of Cohe rence, compared to the general population group. They also reported normal levels of importance, but lower levels of satisfaction on various life doma ins. After statistically controlling for pain however, group differences we re eliminated on all variables except for functional impairment and for all satisfaction domains except health. These data are interpreted as evidence that the combination of low domain satisfaction coupled with high domain i mportance yields a negative psychological state. This, then suggests the po ssibility of a therapy based on reducing the perceived importance of health .