Impact of Spinsterhood on Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Author Information
Author(s): Yacoub Yousra Ibn, Amine Bouchra, Laatiris Assia, Hajjaj-Hassouni Najia
Primary Institution: Department of Rheumatology, El Ayachi Hospital, University Hospital of Rabat-Sale, Morocco
Hypothesis
Does spinsterhood affect disease characteristics and quality of life in Moroccan women with rheumatoid arthritis?
Conclusion
Spinsterhood is associated with a significantly altered quality of life and worse disease features in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Supporting Evidence
- Spinsterhood was found in 22.7% of patients.
- Quality of life was significantly lower in never-married women compared to other marital statuses.
- Spinsterhood was linked to higher pain intensity and disease activity.
- Logistic regression showed significant relationships between spinsterhood and early age at onset of disease.
Takeaway
Being single can make women with arthritis feel worse and hurt more than those who are married or in relationships.
Methodology
185 women with rheumatoid arthritis were assessed for marital status and various disease characteristics using self-reports and clinical evaluations.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported data and the specific cultural context of the study may affect results.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable beyond Moroccan women and does not account for all potential confounding factors.
Participant Demographics
Participants were Moroccan women aged 38 and over with rheumatoid arthritis.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.009; p < 0.001; p = 0.02
Confidence Interval
95% CI for ORs provided in the results
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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