Hinders for continued work among persons with fibromyalgia
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Work disability is common among women with fibromyalgia (FM). The aim of the study was to investigate what health problems and work-related difficulties lead to hinders for continued work among women with FM. METHODS: A qualitative interview study. Twenty-seven gainfully employed women with FM participated in five focus group interviews. Their median age was 52 years, ranging from 33 to 62. The transcribed interviews were analyzed by content analysis. RESULTS: Health problems and work-related demands were identified. Limited physical capacity, increased stress and an increased need of rest were the major health problems, while physical, psychosocial and work organizational demands were the main work-related problems. Personal factors and factors related to family influenced the strategies used to manage the imbalance between the health problems and work-related demands. CONCLUSIONS: Limited physical capacity and an increased need of rest made it difficult for these women to manage the physical, psychosocial and organizational work demands. Adjustment of the work tasks and work environment were the main factors influencing whether the women with FM could work or not.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Being able to continue working was much more challenging, or impossible, for subjects who did not have family support.
“Being able to continue working was much more challenging, or impossible, for subjects who did not have such family support.4,99”
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 [99]
The Discussion (page not provided) says that rest helped participants recover for the next workday and that time to rest depended partly on support from significant others. It does not say that participants without family support found continued work much more challenging or impossible; the Conclusion identifies adjustments to work tasks and the work environment as the main factors determining whether they could work. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Graneheim, U. H., & Lundman, B. (2004) · Nurse Education Today · doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2003.10.001 · Cited by 20,772 · see citing works
Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research
McQuarrie, E. F., & Krueger, R. A. (1989) · Journal of Marketing Research · doi:10.2307/3172912 · Cited by 15,489 · see citing works
The american college of rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia
Wolfe, F., Smythe, H. A., Yunus, M. B., Bennett, R. M., Bombardier, C., Goldenberg, D. L., Tugwell, P., Campbell, S. M., Abeles, M., Clark, P., et al. (1990) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1780330203 · Cited by 9,563 · see citing works
Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research
Billson, J. M. (1989) · Human Biology · Cited by 8,560 · see citing works
The cochrane database of systematic reviews
Geddes, J. R. (1996) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(96)90063-x · Cited by 5,988 · see citing works
Work ability—a comprehensive concept for occupational health research and prevention
Ilmarinen, J. (2009) · Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health · doi:10.5271/sjweh.1304 · Cited by 663 · see citing works
Self-management education programmes by lay leaders for people with chronic conditions
Foster, G., Taylor, S. J., Eldridge, S. M., Ramsay, J., & Griffiths, C. (2007) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005108.pub2 · Cited by 596 · see citing works
Understanding the multiple realities of everyday life: Basic assumptions in focus-group methodology
Dahlin‐Ivanoff, S., & Hultberg, J. (2006) · Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.1080/11038120600691082 · Cited by 316 · see citing works
The epidemiology of chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain
Gran, J. T. (2003) · Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology · doi:10.1016/s1521-6942(03)00042-1 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
(2003) · PubMed · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Fibromyalgia Syndrome Module at OMERACT 9: Domain Construct
MEASE, P., ARNOLD, L. M., CHOY, E. H., CLAUW, D. J., CROFFORD, L. J., GLASS, J. M., MARTIN, S. A., MOREA, J., SIMON, L., STRAND, C. V., et al. (2009) · The Journal of Rheumatology · doi:10.3899/jrheum.090367 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Women with fibromyalgia: Work and rehabilitation
Henriksson, C., Liedberg, G., & Gerdle, B. (2005) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638280400009089 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Ahlmén, M. (2004) · British journal of rheumatology · doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keh412 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Mannerkorpi, K., Svantesson, U. M., & Broberg, C. (2006) · Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2005.10.013 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Self-citationFactors of importance for work disability in women with fibromyalgia: An interview study
Liedberg, G. M., & Henriksson, C. M. (2002) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/art.10454 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Physical performance characteristics of women with fibromyalgia
Mannerkorpi, K., Burckhardt, C. S., & BJELLE, A. O. (1994) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1790070305 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationVingård, E., Lindberg, P., Josephson, M., Voss, M., Heijbel, B., Alfredsson, L. S., Stark, S., & Nygren, Å. (2005) · Scandinavian Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1080/14034940510005860 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Bergström, G., Bodin, L., Bertilsson, H., & Jensen, I. B. (2006) · Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1136/oem.2006.026583 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Sandstrom, M. J., & Keefe, F. J. (1998) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1790110603 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Bergström, G., Björklund, C., Fried, I., Lisspers, J., Nathell, L., Hermansson, U., Helander, A., Bodin, L., & Jensen, I. B. (2008) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-2008-00722 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Employment and health status changes among women with fibromyalgia: A five‐year study
Reisine, S., Fifield, J., Walsh, S., & Forrest, D. D. (2008) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/art.24309 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Coping with critical life events and lack of control—the exertion of control
Theorell, T., Westerlund, H., Alfredsson, L. S., & Oxenstierna, G. (2005) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.03.015 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Dahlgren, A. S., & Gard, G. E. (2009) · Physical Therapy Reviews · doi:10.1179/108331909x12540993897810 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationMultidimensional aspects of work capability
Schult, M., Söderback, I., & Jacobs, K. (2000) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-2000-00102 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Psychological impact of fibromyalgia: current perspectives
Galvez-Sánchez, C. M., Duschek, S., & del Paso, G. A. R. (2019) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s178240 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Izquierdo-Alventosa, R., Inglés, M., Cortés‐Amador, S., Gimeno-Mallench, L., Chirivella, J., Kropotov, J. D., & Serra‐Añó, P. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17103634 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Fibromyalgia: Disease Synopsis, Medication Cost Effectiveness and Economic Burden
Skaer, T. L. (2014) · PharmacoEconomics · doi:10.1007/s40273-014-0137-y · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Work Ability in Fibromyalgia: An Update in the 21st Century
Palstam, A., & Mannerkorpi, K. (2017) · Current Rheumatology Reviews · doi:10.2174/1573397113666170502152955 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Self-citationUnraveling the Complex Web of Fibromyalgia: A Narrative Review
Sharie, S. A., Varga, S. J., Al-Husinat, L., Sarzi‐Puttini, P., Araydah, M., Bal’awi, B. R., & Varrassi, G. (2024) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina60020272 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Palstam, A., Larsson, A., Löfgren, M., Ernberg, M., Bjersing, J., Bileviciute-Ljungar, I., Gerdle, B., Kosek, E., & Mannerkorpi, K. (2016) · Arthritis Research & Therapy · doi:10.1186/s13075-016-1007-0 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Self-citationPerspectives on Living With Fibromyalgia
Taylor, A. G., Adelstein, K. E., Fischer-White, T. G., Murugesan, M., & Anderson, J. G. (2016) · Global Qualitative Nursing Research · doi:10.1177/2333393616658141 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Palstam, A., Bjersing, J. L., & Mannerkorpi, K. (2012) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-1076 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
“workplace related factors that support their ability to work [32,36].”
BackgroundSelf-citationWomen’s Health and Working Life: A Scoping Review
Gjellestad, M., Haraldstad, K., Enehaug, H., & Helmersen, M. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20021080 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“I just want my life back!” - Men’s narratives about living with fibromyalgia
Sallinen, M. H., & Mengshoel, A. M. (2017) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2017.1395085 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Exercise and obesity in fibromyalgia: beneficial roles of IGF-1 and resistin?
Bjersing, J. L., Erlandsson, M. C., Bokarewa, M. I., & Mannerkorpi, K. (2013) · Arthritis Research & Therapy · doi:10.1186/ar4187 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationIzquierdo-Alventosa, R., Inglés, M., Cortés‐Amador, S., Gimeno-Mallench, L., Sempere‐Rubio, N., & Serra‐Añó, P. (2021) · Physical Therapy · doi:10.1093/ptj/pzab159 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Palstam, A., Larsson, A., Bjersing, J., Löfgren, M., Ernberg, M., Bileviciute-Ljungar, I., Ghafouri, B., Sjörs, A., Larsson, B., Gerdle, B., et al. (2014) · Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine · doi:10.2340/16501977-1843 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationLaroche, F., Azoulay, D., Trouvin, A. P., Coste, J., & Perrot, S. (2019) · BMC Rheumatology · doi:10.1186/s41927-019-0089-0 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Climent‐Sanz, C., Morera-Amenós, G., Bellon, F., Pastells‐Peiró, R., Blanco‐Blanco, J., Valenzuela‐Pascual, F., & Gea‐Sánchez, M. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm9124000 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Gavilán‐Carrera, B., Segura‐Jiménez, V., Mekary, R. A., Borges‐Cosic, M., Acosta‐Manzano, P., Estévez‐López, F., Álvarez‐Gallardo, I. C., Geenen, R., & Delgado‐Fernández, M. (2018) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/acr.23717 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-reported disability in women with fibromyalgia from a tertiary care center
Horta‐Baas, G., & Romero‐Figueroa, M. D. S. (2019) · Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia · doi:10.1186/s42358-019-0086-4 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Mukhida, K., Carroll, W., & Arseneault, R. (2020) · Canadian Journal of Pain · doi:10.1080/24740527.2020.1820858 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“Some felt that they were disappointing their colleagues or employers because they were not working normally, which contributed to their senses of stress and dispensability.(34,99) Some subjects described still having ambition or motivation to live up to their, their colleagues’, or their employers’ expectations: “I do…”
BackgroundInfluentialThe Workplace Experiences of Women with Fibromyalgia
Juuso, P., Skär, L., Sundin, K., & Söderberg, S. (2016) · Musculoskeletal Care · doi:10.1002/msc.1125 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Ericsson, A., Nyström, C., & Mannerkorpi, K. (2014) · Nordic Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/08039488.2014.915580 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Self-citationAlAujan, S. S., Almalag, H. M., Assiri, G. A., Alodaibi, F., & Omair, M. A. (2023) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare11070961 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Lisboa, L. L., Sonehara, E., de Oliveira, K. C. A. N., de Andrade, S. C., & Azevedo, G. D. (2015) · Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia · doi:10.1016/j.rbr.2014.08.019 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Association of employment and health and weil-being in people with fibromyalgia
Muller, V. R., Chiu, C. Y., Tang, X., Eagle, D. R., Peebles, M. C., Iwanaga, K., Brooks, J., & Chan, F. H. (2017) · Journal of rehabilitation · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Social costs associated with fibromyalgia in Spain
Oliva, J., & Vilaplana‐Prieto, C. (2024) · Health Economics Review · doi:10.1186/s13561-024-00527-1 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
The effects of local cold application on fibromyalgia pain
Yilmaz, N., & Kıyak, E. (2017) · International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1111/1756-185x.13078 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Gonzalez, B., Novo, R., & Peres, R. S. (2020) · Scandinavian Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/sjop.12694 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Doran, C., Duits, A. J., Tami, A., Gerstenbluth, I. I., & Bailey, A. (2023) · PLoS neglected tropical diseases · doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0011793 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Gonzalez, B., Novo, R., Peres, R. S., & Baptista, T. M. (2018) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2018.11.013 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Prevalence of Fibromyalgia in Pharmacy Professionals and Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
AlAujan, S. S., Almalag, H. M., & Omair, M. A. (2021) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s301916 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Work volition in women with fibromyalgia: a phenomenological analysis
Lev, M., & Goldner, L. (2020) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2020.1827050 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
La cronicidad de la fibromialgia. Una revisión de la literatura
Martínez, Á. T., Ruiz, M. C. S., & González, J. S. (2014) · Enfermería Global · doi:10.6018/eglobal.13.3.182621 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Hamnes, B., Rønningen, A., & Skarbø, Å. (2017) · Musculoskeletal Care · doi:10.1002/msc.1210 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Purc‐Stephenson, R. J., Dostie, J., & Smith, H. J. (2018) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/acr.23528 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
The correlation between occupation type and fibromyalgia severity
Mohabbat, A. B., Wight, E. C., Mohabbat, N. M. L., Nanda, S., Ferguson, J. A., Philpot, L. M., & Adusumalli, J. (2023) · Occupational Medicine · doi:10.1093/occmed/kqad063 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Risk factors for work disability associated with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions
Allaire, S. H., AlHeresh, R. A., & Keysor, J. J. (2013) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-131667 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Schöpf, A. C., Schlöffel, M., Amos, T., Thyrolf, A., Lamprecht, J., Mau, W., Böhm, P., & Farin‐Glattacker, E. (2018) · Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10410236.2018.1431760 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Chen, A., Carpenter, H., & Flaherty, M. G. (2019) · The International Journal of Information Diversity & Inclusion (IJIDI) · doi:10.33137/ijidi.v3i3.32964 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Body awareness in healthy subjects – a qualitative study
Kjolstad, G., Gyllensten, A. L., & Gard, G. E. (2020) · European Journal of Physiotherapy · doi:10.1080/21679169.2020.1845792 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationFibromialgia en Trabajo: Explorando su Impacto en el Desempeño Laboral
Marrero-Centeno, J. J., Moreno-Velázquez, I. F., & Sánchez‐Cardona, I. (2017) · Revista Interamericana de Psicología Ocupacional · doi:10.21772/ripo.v36n1a01 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Barriers to Exercise Participation in Individuals with Fibromyalgia in a Workplace Setting
Parpa, K. (2026) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina62020354 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Stagg, A. L., Madan, I., Fear, N. T., Stevens, M., Wainwright, E. M., Hoving, J. L., Macfarlane, G. J., Hollick, R. J., Morton, L., & on behalf of the QUICK Study Investigators (2024) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003169 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Martín-Borràs, C., Serra, G. G., Carrasco-Querol, N., Sansano-Nadal, O., Hernández, N. B., del Pino, P. B., Cazalla, M. P., Angelats, R. C., Montesó‐Curto, P., Blanco, E. C., et al. (2024) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2024.1441076 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Disability as a Dimension of Diversity
Olkin, R. (2015) · Handbooks in health, work, and disability · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2920-7_23 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Chronic Widespread Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Okifuji, A., & Hare, B. D. (2014) · Handbooks in health, work, and disability · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-0612-3_6 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Muller, V. R., Brooks, J., Tu, W., Moser, E., Lo, C., & Chan, F. (2015) · Rehabilitation Research Policy and Education · doi:10.1891/2168-6653.29.3.291 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Lisboa, L. L., Sonehara, E., de Oliveira, K. C. A. N., de Andrade, S. C., & de Azevedo, G. D. (2015) · Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia (English Edition) · doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2014.08.018 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Borze, T. F., Pallag, A., Tarcău, E., CIOBANU, D. I., Andronie-Cioară, F. L., Nistor-Cseppento, C. D., Ciavoi, G., & Muresan, M. E. (2025) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina61020285 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Current Issues Regarding the Care of the Fibromyalgia Patient
Skaer, T. L. (2017) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Aspects of work and health in women with fibromyalgia
Palstam, A. (2015) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
Gonon-Demoulian, R., Giniès, P., & Attal, J. (2021) · Douleur et Analgésie · doi:10.3166/dea-2021-0185
Sanjuan-Sánchez, D., Climent‐Sanz, C., Patiño-Vera, M. D. M., Gea‐Sánchez, M., Rubí‐Carnacea, F., & Briones‐Vozmediano, E. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3745779/v1
Overmeire, R. V., Vesentini, L., Muysewinkel, E., Vanclooster, S., & Bilsen, J. J. R. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-32046-0_43-1
Overmeire, R. V., Vesentini, L., Muysewinkel, E., Vanclooster, S., & Bilsen, J. J. R. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-73363-5_43
Exploring the impact of fibromyalgia on pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period
Smith, L. T., West, H., Jackson, L., Herron, K., & Cherry, M. G. (2026) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646838.2025.2606006
- Authors
- Mannerkorpi, K., & Gard, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Lund University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Mannerkorpi, Kaisa
- Venue
- BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Published
- 2012-06-11
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 96-96
- ISSN
- 1471-2474 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3413509
- OpenAlex
- W2131528695
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- fibromyalgia, work disability, return to work, women, psychosocial demands, work organization, physical capacity, stress, work-family balance, work adjustment, occupational health
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Disability Evaluation, Employment, Female, Fibromyalgia, Health Status, Humans, Middle Aged, Work Capacity Evaluation, Work Schedule Tolerance, Occupational Health, Workplace, Focus Groups
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
