Community Participation as Both a Mediator and Moderator for the Relationship Between Functional Disability and Life Satisfaction of Individuals With Fibromyalgia

Abstract

BackgroundFibromyalgia (FM) is a lifelong central nervous system disorder that can have a significant impact on an individual's functionality, community participation, employment, health-related quality of life, and life satisfaction. In the present study, we adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model as a research framework to examine the impact of FM on community participation and life satisfaction.PurposeThe present study investigates the moderating and mediating effects of community participation on the relationship between functional disability and life satisfaction.ResultsThe results indicated community participation is both a significant mediator and moderator for the relationship between functional disability and life satisfaction.ImplicationsThe negative relationship between functional disability and life satisfaction diminished when individuals with FM had high levels of community participation, and functional disability had indirect effects on life satisfaction through community participation. It is important to continue this particular line of research in order to identify specific interventions that can help individuals increase community participation and life satisfaction.