The Workplace Experiences of Women with Fibromyalgia
Abstract
Purpose: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common pain syndrome that mostly affects women. Chronic pain and other symptoms often chalenge work for women with FM. This study aimed to explore how women with FM experience their work situations. Method: A purposive sample of 15 women with FM was interviewed with in‐depth qualitative interviews. Data were analysed using a hermeneutic approach. Results: The results revealed that women with FM experienced incapacity to work as they had previously and eventually accepted that their work life had changed or reached its end. Since their work had great significance in their lives, feelings of loss and sorrow were common. Women who were working, unemployed, or on sick leave described feelings of fear for their future work situations. Conclusions: Women with FM greatly value their work. Their wish to perform work as before is however, not consistent with their abilities. As such, women with FM need support in continuing to work for as long as possible, after which they need support in finding new values in life.
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Coworkers were described as unsympathetic, thought subjects were malingering, and resented having to cover for colleagues with fibromyalgia because of a lack of trust in the validity or reality of their illness.
“Coworkers were described as being unsympathetic; they thought that subjects were malingering so that they would not have to do as much work and resented having to potentially cover for their colleagues with fibromyalgia because there was a lack of trust in the validity or reality of their illness.91,96”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as [96]
Work provided structure and an opportunity for distraction from symptoms.
“Beyond meaning, work also provided “structure.”35 To occupy themselves with work also provided an opportunity for distraction from the symptoms of fibromyalgia.35,96”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as [96]
Work was associated with having self-worth and the inability to work decreased self-esteem.
“Work was associated with having self-worth and the inability to work decreased self-esteem.96”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as [96]
Some studies only included women.
“Thus, some studies only included women.88,90,95,96”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as [96]
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- Authors
- Juuso, P., Skär, L., Sundin, K., & Söderberg, S.
- Affiliations
- Luleå University of Technology (SE)
- Blekinge Institute of Technology (SE)
- Umeå University (SE)
- Mid Sweden University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Juuso, Päivi
- Venue
- Musculoskeletal Care
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-01-12
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 69-76
- ISSN
- 1478-2189 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-0681
- OpenAlex
- W2237635322
- Semantic Scholar
- ef4fe7bb5f373036bbdd12c4b0c92f49a97bc6fe
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 2.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Musculoskeletal Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Therapy Practice and Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Keywords
- fibromyalgia, women, work experience, chronic pain, work disability, unemployment, sick leave, return to work
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Fibromyalgia, Humans, Middle Aged, Work, Workplace
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