Body Image Mediates the Impact of Pain on Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
August 2019
in “
Lupus
”
Studysummary This study found that body image-related quality of life significantly mediates the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study examined whether body image-related quality of life mediated the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms in 135 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The sample was predominantly female (92.6%) with an average disease duration of 17 years. Results indicated that body image-related quality of life significantly mediated the impact of pain on depressive symptoms, accounting for 51% of the variance in depressive symptoms. This suggested that improving body image-related quality of life could potentially alleviate depressive symptoms in SLE patients experiencing pain.
