Arthritis self-efficacy and self-efficacy for resisting eating: relationships to pain, disability, and eating behavior in overweight and obese individuals with osteoarthritic knee pain

Pain. 2008 Jun;136(3):340-347. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2007.07.012. Epub 2007 Aug 30.

Abstract

This study examined arthritis self-efficacy and self-efficacy for resisting eating as predictors of pain, disability, and eating behaviors in overweight or obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Patients (N=174) with a body mass index between 25 and 42 completed measures of arthritis-related self-efficacy, weight-related self-efficacy, pain, physical disability, psychological disability, overeating, and demographic and medical information. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to examine whether arthritis self-efficacy (efficacy for pain control, physical function, and other symptoms) and self-efficacy for resisting eating accounted for significant variance in pain, disability, and eating behaviors after controlling for demographic and medical characteristics. Analyses also tested whether the contributions of self-efficacy were domain specific. Results showed that self-efficacy for pain accounted for 14% (p=.01) of the variance in pain, compared to only 3% accounted for by self-efficacy for physical function and other symptoms. Self-efficacy for physical function accounted for 10% (p=.001) of the variance in physical disability, while self-efficacy for pain and other symptoms accounted for 3%. Self-efficacy for other (emotional) symptoms and resisting eating accounted for 21% (p<.05) of the variance in psychological disability, while self-efficacy for pain control and physical function were not significant predictors. Self-efficacy for resisting eating accounted for 28% (p=.001) of the variance in eating behaviors. Findings indicate that self-efficacy is important in understanding pain and behavioral adjustment in overweight or obese OA patients. Moreover, the contributions of self-efficacy were domain specific. Interventions targeting both arthritis self-efficacy and self-efficacy for resisting eating may be helpful in this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Arthralgia / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Obesity / prevention & control
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / epidemiology*
  • Overweight / epidemiology
  • Overweight / prevention & control
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Self Efficacy*