The Impact of Fibromyalgia on Employment Status of Newly-Diagnosed Young Women: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT. Objectives: To describe employment loss in young women with newly diagnosed fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and to identify variables that may explain early loss of employ-ment. Methods: In this pilot studsy, 94 young women [18-39 years old] in the United States [USA] and Sweden completed demographics, global rating scales, and standardized questionnaires, in-cluding the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36 General Health Subscale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales II Social Support Subscale, and Job Flexibility Scale, three times during the first 12 to 15 months after diagnosis. Results: At the time of diagnosis, 60 percent were in paid employment [USA 71 percent, Swe-den 49 percent]. When the participants entered the study, within three months of diagnosis, only 46 percent were working [USA 56 percent, Sweden 37 percent]. Twelve months later, 41 percent were working [USA 55 percent, Sweden 28 percent]. Younger age, poorer physical functioning, and lower self-efficacy for pain management along with higher symptom interference with ability to do any work, and pain severity predicted unemployment with 75 percent accuracy