Relationship among symptoms of anxiety, psychosomatic, and coping in adults with rheumatoid arthritis

There is limited research on the interplay between psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety, and coping strategies among individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). This study examined their frequency and relationships in 97 RA patients assessed at a public healthcare institution in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Participants were predominantly female (94%), with a mean age of 59.3 years (SD = 13.10), and completed sociodemographic, anxiety (ASQ), psychosomatic (PSS-Bra), and coping (Brief COPE) measures. Most participants primarily used emotion-focused coping strategies (M = 28.08, SD = 5.85), and 81.3% exhibited severe anxiety symptoms. Network analysis showed that anxiety symptoms occupied a central position, connecting with most psychosomatic symptoms. Psychosomatic symptoms significantly predicted anxiety symptoms, F(3, 93) = 27.5, p < .001, adjusted R² = 0.45. The frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms (β = 0.31, p < .001), pain (β = 0.29, p = .003), and pseudoneurological symptoms (β = 0.27, p = .002) showed the greatest association with anxiety. These findings underscore the close link between psychosomatic and anxiety symptoms in RA, highlighting the need to address both psychological and somatic aspects in clinical management. Future studies should explore these relationships longitudinally and across diverse contexts to inform comprehensive interventions.