Body Image and Self-Esteem in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Introduction: The study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of disease-related variables, such as socio-demographic characteristics, disease complaints, and necrosis factor (anti-TNF) use, on the body image and self-esteem in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The data was collected by an Introductory Information Form, Body Image Scale (PfP) BIS and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) in 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 120 healthy control group. One-way analysis of variance, Tukey HDS analysis, t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to compare the data. Results: 60% of controls aged 20-44 years, 75% were women and 30.8% had bachelor's degree or above, while 60% of patients aged between 20 and 44 years, 71.7% were women and 36.7% had bachelor's or higher education. We observed that the body satisfaction and self-esteem were higher in 20-44 age group, in those with bachelor's or higher education, without additional disease, and do not use anti-TNF; while the body satisfaction and self-esteem were lower in those receiving treatment over 5 years, with changes in hand and body and with gait disturbance, and with changes in family and working life. Conclusion: The assessment of the psychosocial needs with a holistic approach and training programs for body image and self-esteem would be advisable for patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are aged 45-59 years, with low self-esteem, with additional disease, using anti-TNF, with changes in hand and body, and with primary-school education.