Confronting life with rheumatoid arthritis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rheumatology
• Psychology

Background:

• Older adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience chronic daily stressors, including physical limitations, fatigue, and loss of independence.
• Living with RA involves adapting to fluctuating symptoms and role changes, with limited research on long-term stress and coping in this demographic.
• This study focuses on individuals diagnosed with RA in midlife and their experiences as they age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally identify and describe illness-related stressors perceived by older adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed since midlife.
• To examine the stress-related emotions experienced by these individuals over two 6-month intervals.
• To document the coping strategies employed to manage RA-related stressors.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, descriptive research design was utilized.
• Data were collected at three distinct time points over a 12-month period.
• Participants' perceptions of stress, emotions, and coping strategies related to RA were assessed.

Main Results:

• Physical limitations were identified as the most frequent illness-related stressor among participants.
• The predominant stress emotion reported was 'harm'.
• Confrontive coping strategies were most commonly used to manage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) stress.

Conclusions:

• Findings enhance nurses' understanding of older adults' experiences with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• Provides insights into the emotions and coping mechanisms utilized by this population.
• Informs supportive care for managing the daily adversity of RA in older individuals.