Relationship between religiosity, spirituality and physical and mental outcomes in fibromyalgia patients

The coping mechanisms utilised by patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) pose a crucial focus of treatment. Previous research points to the positive effects of religiosity and spirituality (R/S) as tools for coping with illness. The role of these factors in coping with chronic pain in FMS has not previously been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the link between R/S and FMS outcomes. Fifty-five FM patients (ACR criteria) attending a tertiary rheumatology clinic completed a packet of questionnaires assessing demographic data, levels of religiosity and spirituality (SpREUK) and locus of control (LOC). These variables were then individually assessed for influence on FM outcome measures, using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the SF-36, and the Beck Depression Index (BDI). A high score on SpREUK I (search for meaningful support) was negatively correlated with the Role-Physical (p=0.032) and Role-Emotional (p