Associations between patterns of active commuting and socioeconomic factors in women with fibromyalgia: the al-Ándalus project.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know whether active commuting behaviour differs between fibromyalgia patients and controls, and to test whether active commuting is associated with socioeconomic factors in this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 459 women with fibromyalgia (52.2 years) and 214 female control participants (51.3 years) from Andalusia (southern Spain). Participants reported patterns of active commuting and socioeconomic factors (civil status, accompaniment at home, living with, educational level, and current occupational and professional status). RRESULTS: On the age group <51 years, women with fibromyalgia revealed a significant higher percentage of active commuting for the variable active worker commuters than control group (p<0.05). On the age group ≥51 years, control group displayed a significant higher percentage of active commuting for commuting to local shops, super-market and active commuters variables (all, p<0.05). Women with fibromyalgia who lived alone were more active commuters in comparison to either those living accompanied, or living with both partner and children, only partner and only children (all, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of active commuting was similar in women with fibromyalgia and controls aged <51 years. However, fibromyalgia participants aged ≥51 years displayed differences: fibromyalgia women who lived alone were more active commuters than those living accompanied; family demands were inversely associated with commuting patterns. Policies focused on reducing family demands for fibromyalgia patients (i.e. social help on housework, childcare or overprotection) might facilitate the inclusion of daily active behaviours.

Illness perception and fibromyalgia impact on female patients from Spain and the Netherlands: do cultural differences exist?

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in illness perception and overall impact on fibromyalgia females from Spain and the Netherlands. A total of 325 fibromyalgia females from Spain (54.3 ± 7.1 years) and the Netherlands (51.8 ± 7.2 years) participated in the study. Illness perception and impact of fibromyalgia were assessed by the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, respectively. Spanish fibromyalgia females perceived more symptoms related to their fibromyalgia (identity) such as nausea, breathlessness, wheezing or fatigue (P < 0.001) and had greater emotional representation (P < 0.01). Dutch fibromyalgia females experienced less timeline (acute/chronic) and consequences (all, P < 0.05), had a better cyclical timeline, personal control, treatment control and illness coherence (all, P < 0.001). Spanish fibromyalgia females reported higher impact of fibromyalgia than Dutch females (61.2 + 14.8 vs. 54.9 + 16.4, respectively; P < 0.001), but the effect size was small (Cohen's d = 0.41) . Impact of fibromyalgia and negative views of fibromyalgia were higher in Spanish fibromyalgia females, whereas Dutch fibromyalgia females presented higher score of positive beliefs about the controllability of the illness. Psychological interventions which help patients to cope with their illness perception might lead to an improvement of the impact of the disease on fibromyalgia females.

Psychological and environmental factors for older adults to exercise: A systematic review / Factores psicológicos y ambientales para que los adultos mayores hagan ejercicio: Una revisión sistemática / Fatores psicológicos e ambientais para o exercício de adultos mais velhos: uma revisão sistemática

Research investigation concerning potential motivators and psychological influences on health and physical exercise participation have increased worldwide in the last two decades. In contrast, few investigations have analysed this phenomenon in older people living in different contexts. Older adults suffer a notable diminution of physical functions that may be followed by psychological disorders and are detrimental to their affective and social relationships. Therefore, it is of great importance to find strategies that increase the participation of older adults' in regular exercise. A systematic review of 945 studies was conducted. All of the 27 studies reviewed, that met the inclusion criteria, have undertaken mixed-method, qualitative and qualitative approaches. The data were extracted based on the following variables: the methodology and the instrument/questionnaire used, the type of article, number of participants, duration and intensity of the interventions, profile of the older adults, most relevant findings and the country where the study was developed. The instruments used in the studies, were mainly semi-structured interviews, discussion groups and questionnaires, focusing mainly on the United States and Canada. The knowledge of psychological and environmental factors is a key aspect relevant to both the social and physical aspects and has a strong influence on older people's commitment to exercise, influencing their wellbeing. The aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators of adherence to a physical exercise programme for older adults

Las investigaciones sobre los posibles factores motivadores e influencias psicológicas sobre la salud y la participación en el ejercicio físico han aumentado en todo el mundo en las últimas dos décadas. En contraste, pocas investigaciones han analizado este fenómeno en adultos mayores que viven en varios contextos. Los adultos mayores sufren una disminución notable de las funciones físicas que pueden ser seguidas por trastornos psicológicos y un detrimento de las relaciones afectivas y sociales. Por lo tanto, es de suma importancia encontrar estrategias para aumentar la participación regular de los adultos mayores en prácticas de ejercicio físico dirigido. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de 945 estudios. Todos los 27 estudios revisados, que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, han adoptado métodos mixtos, cuantitativos y cualitativos. Los datos se extrajeron de acuerdo con las siguientes variables: metodología científica, el instrumento / cuestionario utilizado, tipo de artículo, número de participantes, duración e intensidad de las intervenciones, perfil del colectivo de adultos mayores, los hallazgos más relevantes y el país donde se realizó el estudio. Los instrumentos utilizados en los estudios fueron principalmente entrevistas semiestructuradas, grupos de discusión y cuestionarios, centrados principalmente en Estados Unidos y Canadá. El conocimiento sobre los factores psicológicos y ambientales es un aspecto clave que se encuentra adyacente tanto a los aspectos físicos como a los sociales y tiene una influencia relevante en el ejercicio y el bienestar de los adultos mayores. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar las barreras y los facilitadores a la hora de realizar un programa de ejercicio físico para adultos mayores

Pesquisas sobre possíveis fatores motivadores e influências psicológicas na saúde e participação em exercícios físicos aumentaram em todo o mundo nas últimas duas décadas. Por outro lado, poucas investigações analisaram esse fenômeno em idosos que vivem em vários contextos. Os idosos sofrem uma diminuição notável nas funções físicas que podem ser seguidas por distúrbios psicológicos e um prejuízo para as relações afetivas e sociais. Portanto, é de extrema importância encontrar estratégias para aumentar a participação regular de idosos em práticas direcionadas de exercícios físicos. Uma revisão sistemática de 945 estudos foi realizada. Todos os 21 estudos revisados, que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão, adotaram métodos mistos, quantitativos e qualitativos. Os dados foram extraídos de acordo com as seguintes variáveis: metodologia científica, instrumento / questionário utilizado, tipo de artigo, número de participantes, duração e intensidade das intervenções, perfil do grupo de idosos, achados mais relevantes e país onde o estudo foi realizado. Os instrumentos utilizados nos estudos foram principalmente entrevistos semiestruturadas, grupos de discussão e questionários, focados principalmente nos Estados Unidos e no Canadá. O conhecimento de fatores psicológicos e ambientais é um aspecto fundamental, adjacente aos aspectos físicos e sociais, e tem uma influência relevante no exercício e no bem-estar dos idosos. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar as barreiras e facilitadores na realização de um programa de exercícios físicos para idosos