Anne M Lynch-Jordan1, Soumitri Sil2, Maggie Bromberg3, Tracy V Ting4, Susmita Kashikar-Zuck5. 1. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. Electronic address: anne.lynch-jordan@cchmc.org. 2. Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. 3. Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington. 4. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. 5. Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Juvenile-onset fibromyalgia (JFM) affects physical, social, and emotional functioning. Little is known about how social support and social interactions are impacted in the transition to young adulthood for patients diagnosed with JFM. METHODS: Young adults (Mage = 21.6) diagnosed with JFM during adolescence (N = 94) and matched healthy controls (N = 33) completed measures of social network size and diversity, perceived social support, physical functioning, and depressive symptoms as part of a cross-sectional survey study. RESULTS: No difference in social network diversity was found, although JFM patients reported fewer total people within their social networks. JFM patients reported poorer emotional and tangible support and fewer positive social interactions than healthy controls. After controlling for condition and pain intensity, the level of perceived social support was a significant predictor of physical functioning and depressive symptoms, whereas social network size also contributed uniquely to physical functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Given the developmental importance of social support in adolescence and young adulthood, interventions should include methods of improving social support into fibromyalgia management.
PURPOSE: Juvenile-onset fibromyalgia (JFM) affects physical, social, and emotional functioning. Little is known about how social support and social interactions are impacted in the transition to young adulthood for patients diagnosed with JFM. METHODS: Young adults (Mage = 21.6) diagnosed with JFM during adolescence (N = 94) and matched healthy controls (N = 33) completed measures of social network size and diversity, perceived social support, physical functioning, and depressive symptoms as part of a cross-sectional survey study. RESULTS: No difference in social network diversity was found, although JFM patients reported fewer total people within their social networks. JFM patients reported poorer emotional and tangible support and fewer positive social interactions than healthy controls. After controlling for condition and pain intensity, the level of perceived social support was a significant predictor of physical functioning and depressive symptoms, whereas social network size also contributed uniquely to physical functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Given the developmental importance of social support in adolescence and young adulthood, interventions should include methods of improving social support into fibromyalgia management.