[Psychological correlates of self-help group membership in patients with rheumatic diseases]

Abstract

This study focuses on the significance of psychological correlates of membership in self-help groups for rheumatic diseases. 138 patients suffering from rheumatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and arthrosis participated in the study. Self-help group members show specific control beliefs which differ from the non-self-help group members. They view the disease as more controllable by themselves (internal locus of control) and as less dependent on health professionals (powerful others health locus of control) and on fate or chance (chance locus of control). Further, self-help group members show more compliance and engagement in their treatment than non-self-help group members. In addition, they search for more information, for more sources of information and show better knowledge about the disease and about treatment which may also be a result of higher frequencies of conversations about the disease and about treatment reported by members of self-help groups. Self-help group members do not only speak more frequently about these topics, but such conversations are also more important in their estimation. Results further suggest a relation between self-help group membership and emotional variables.