Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives

Purpose It is well-documented that people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) exhibit a high prevalence of symptoms related to anxiety and depression. Less is known about what contributes to good mental health in people with IA. Therefore, this study aims to explore how some patients maintain good ment...

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Main Authors: Signe Marie Abild, Julie Midtgaard, Annika Nordkamp, Annette de Thurah, Sofie Bech Vestergaard, Bente Glintborg, Mette Aadahl, Pernille Fevejle Cromhout, Lene Lau, Connie Yilmaz, Bente Appel Esbensen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2424015
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author Signe Marie Abild
Julie Midtgaard
Annika Nordkamp
Annette de Thurah
Sofie Bech Vestergaard
Bente Glintborg
Mette Aadahl
Pernille Fevejle Cromhout
Lene Lau
Connie Yilmaz
Bente Appel Esbensen
author_facet Signe Marie Abild
Julie Midtgaard
Annika Nordkamp
Annette de Thurah
Sofie Bech Vestergaard
Bente Glintborg
Mette Aadahl
Pernille Fevejle Cromhout
Lene Lau
Connie Yilmaz
Bente Appel Esbensen
author_sort Signe Marie Abild
collection DOAJ
description Purpose It is well-documented that people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) exhibit a high prevalence of symptoms related to anxiety and depression. Less is known about what contributes to good mental health in people with IA. Therefore, this study aims to explore how some patients maintain good mental health despite living with IA. Methods Explorative qualitative interview study (one focus group, 12 individual interviews, n = 18) utilizing purposeful sampling. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and managed using NVivo14 and employed a reflexive thematical analysis approach. Results We identified four main themes: 1) Assisted by a positive outlook on life—how participants’ inherent positivity helped them cope with arthritis; 2) Moving towards acceptance of life with arthritis—how participants embraced the reality of living with IA; 3) Counteracting letting arthritis dictate one’s life how the participants structured their lives in terms of physical activity and social connections; and 4) Taking responsibility for the trajectory—how the participants were mindful of their bodies and took the initiative to explore new treatments. Conclusion People living with IA maintain good mental health by engaging in structured physical activity, fostering social connections, and cultivating a positive outlook on life. These insights can inform the development of future treatment and support strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-7da7f5277b3944b0b37bd87c2b5bbbc82025-08-20T02:50:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.24240152424015Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectivesSigne Marie Abild0Julie Midtgaard1Annika Nordkamp2Annette de Thurah3Sofie Bech Vestergaard4Bente Glintborg5Mette Aadahl6Pernille Fevejle Cromhout7Lene Lau8Connie Yilmaz9Bente Appel Esbensen10DANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE)Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPHDANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE)Aarhus University HospitalAarhus University HospitalDANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE)University of CopenhagenNovo Nordisk A/SPatient research partnersPatient research partnersDANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE)Purpose It is well-documented that people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) exhibit a high prevalence of symptoms related to anxiety and depression. Less is known about what contributes to good mental health in people with IA. Therefore, this study aims to explore how some patients maintain good mental health despite living with IA. Methods Explorative qualitative interview study (one focus group, 12 individual interviews, n = 18) utilizing purposeful sampling. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and managed using NVivo14 and employed a reflexive thematical analysis approach. Results We identified four main themes: 1) Assisted by a positive outlook on life—how participants’ inherent positivity helped them cope with arthritis; 2) Moving towards acceptance of life with arthritis—how participants embraced the reality of living with IA; 3) Counteracting letting arthritis dictate one’s life how the participants structured their lives in terms of physical activity and social connections; and 4) Taking responsibility for the trajectory—how the participants were mindful of their bodies and took the initiative to explore new treatments. Conclusion People living with IA maintain good mental health by engaging in structured physical activity, fostering social connections, and cultivating a positive outlook on life. These insights can inform the development of future treatment and support strategies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2424015mental healthinflammatory arthritisqualitative studiesdisease managementchronic illness
spellingShingle Signe Marie Abild
Julie Midtgaard
Annika Nordkamp
Annette de Thurah
Sofie Bech Vestergaard
Bente Glintborg
Mette Aadahl
Pernille Fevejle Cromhout
Lene Lau
Connie Yilmaz
Bente Appel Esbensen
Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
mental health
inflammatory arthritis
qualitative studies
disease management
chronic illness
title Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
title_full Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
title_fullStr Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
title_short Maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
title_sort maintaining good mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis a qualitative study of patients perspectives
topic mental health
inflammatory arthritis
qualitative studies
disease management
chronic illness
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2424015
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