The Effect of Expressing Emotions on the Psychological Well-Being of Individuals Suffering From Chronic Musculoskeletal Diseases

Abstract

Background and Objective: This study examines the effect of expressing emotions on the psychological well-being of individuals who have musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 111 individuals suffering from musculoskeletal diseases who were undergoing treatment in a university hospital in a metropolitan city in Turkey. Personal information forms, the Emotion Expression Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale were utilized in the research questionnaire. Results: A significant positive relationship was detected between expressing emotions and psychological well-being scores, and it was determined that expressing emotions positively influenced psychological well-being. Emotion expression accounted for 15.8 percent of psychological well-being (F=21.668, p<0.001). It was also unearthed that there was a significant difference between the groups according to the variables of level of education, gender, marital status, family structure, personal history, and whether there was a history of illness in the family. The model explained 34.7% of the variance in psychological well-being (F=12.708, p<0.001). In order of importance, expressing closeness (β=0.470; p<0.001), a higher education level (β=0.249; p<0.05), and expressing negative emotion (β=0.178, p<0.05) variables positively predict psychological well-being. However, single marital status (β=-0.239, p<0.05) predicts psychological well-being negatively. Conclusion: It has been observed that expressing emotions in musculoskeletal disorders contributes, albeit limited, to the level of psychological well-being. Accordingly, it is believed that encouraging individuals with musculoskeletal diseases to communicate their feelings with others or to express their feelings in various ways, providing supportive and reliable environments, and conducting therapeutic studies to increase their behaviors to express their feelings will contribute to patient care