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Sociodemographic Factors, but Not Rurality, Explain Limited Variance in Fibromyalgia Severity: A Secondary Analysis
Ezgi Yarasir Gillette1, Kari G Vance1, Emine O Bayman2
1Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Pain Medicine (Malden, Mass.)
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Fibromyalgia severity is not significantly impacted by living in rural versus urban areas. Sociodemographic factors also showed minimal influence on pain, fatigue, and pain catastrophizing in fibromyalgia patients.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Fibromyalgia presents with diverse symptoms including pain, fatigue, and psychosocial issues, significantly impacting disease severity.
- Understanding factors influencing fibromyalgia severity is crucial for effective patient management and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of rural versus urban living environments on fibromyalgia severity.
- To explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics and fibromyalgia severity.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of baseline data from 685 participants in two clinical trials.
- Utilized survey data on sociodemographics, pain, fatigue, pain catastrophizing, and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQR).
Main Results:
- Rurality was not significantly associated with fibromyalgia severity (FIQR).
- Age, race, marital status, education, employment, and income were associated with FIQR, with higher severity in older, non-White, unemployed individuals with lower income.
- Sociodemographic variables explained less than 10% of the variance in FIQR, pain severity, pain interference, fatigue, and pain catastrophizing.
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia disease severity is minimally influenced by sociodemographic variables.
- Rurality does not appear to be a significant factor in fibromyalgia disease severity or its associated symptoms.
