How personal beliefs influence arthritis coping strategies

People with osteoarthritis (OA) tend to create their own personal explanations of why they developed the condition, according to a recent British study. These personal narratives, in turn, affect how individuals perceive and manage their arthritis.

Researchers interviewed 31 people with OA who were participating in a larger investigation of the effectiveness of an arthritis self-management program. The participants were selected to represent various degrees of self-reliance in managing their condition. The study group included men and women; their ages ranged from 56 to 84 years. The researchers asked participants about their response to their diagnosis and their beliefs regarding how and why they developed OA.

COMMON THEMES
The responses of these patients suggested several common beliefs about OA, including assumptions that it is caused by wear-and-tear on the joints, is an inevitable consequence of aging, and isn’t serious. The participants appeared to make sense of their diagnosis by reflecting on their personal history. Some of the personal “causes” involved heredity, occupation, participation in sports, excessive weight, falls and other accidents, military service, exposure to cold or damp weather, and running barefoot.

Most of the men and women didn’t have a particularly negative reaction to learning they had the disease—there was no “Why me?” response, as often occurs with other chronic conditions. Cultural beliefs about aging and experiences with older family members contributed to a lack of surprise at their diagnosis (except among two people in their 50s) and to a general acceptance of the disease.

A “GRIN AND BEAR IT” ATTITUDE
There is a potential downside to this accepting attitude. Previous studies have found that people who view their OA as a natural part of aging—often reinforced by cultural portrayals of the condition—are less likely to seek preventive care or medical treatment for it. Also, those who attribute their OA to wear-and-tear may resist recommendations to do regular weight-bearing exercise.