Mediators and moderators of the stressor-fatigue relationship in nonclinical samples

Title
Mediators and moderators of the stressor-fatigue relationship in nonclinical samples
Publication Date
2009
Author(s)
Thorsteinsson, Einar B
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2065-1989
Email: ethorste@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ethorste
Brown, Rhonda
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.06.010
UNE publication id
une:4881
Abstract
Objective: Two cross-sectional studies examined statistical mediators and moderators of the stressful life event (SLE)–fatigue relationship. If such factors can be delineated, they might suggest possible avenues for improving current psychological treatments for fatigue. Methods: In Study 1, 281 (63 males and 218 females) participants, 18 to 70 years, completed a questionnaire asking about stressors, social support, demographics, and fatigue. In Study 2, 609 (225 males and 384 females) participants, 18 to 80 years, answered questions about the above mentioned variables, and sleep quality and use of sleep medications. Results: Younger age, more SLEs, and low social support satisfaction were found to be related to fatigue levels in Study 1. These results were replicated in Study 2, and, additionally, sleep disturbance (i.e., low sleep quality, use of sleep medications) was related to fatigue levels, while age was related to fatigue via the use of sleep medications. The SLE–fatigue relationship was found to be mediated through different mechanisms in males and females: social support dissatisfaction and sleep quality mediated the relationship in females, while sleep quality mediated the relationship in males. Conclusion: These results suggest that gender tailoring of psychological treatments may improve their effectiveness in treating fatigue, in particular, by targeting social support satisfaction in females and sleep hygiene in both sexes.
Link
Citation
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(1), p. 21-29
ISSN
1879-1360
0022-3999
Start page
21
End page
29

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