Self-appraisal of body appreciation and health identity among adults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Abstract

Adults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) often experience challenges related to not only physical health, but also to psychosocial well-being. This study examined the relationships between body appreciation, illness identity, fear of negative evaluation and psychological distress in adults with OI. Three hundred adults with OI were recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Self-report measures including the Body Appreciation Scale-2, Illness Identity Questionnaire, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety and Depression Scale. Understanding these relationships may provide further insight into the interpersonal and intrapersonal factors associated with psychological functioning and overall quality of life in individuals with OI. Results showed positive correlations were observed between body appreciation, illness acceptance, and illness enrichment, which were negatively associated with illness rejection and engulfment. Regression analyses indicated that body appreciation was the strongest negative predictor of fear of negative evaluation, while illness engulfment was the strongest positive predictor of psychological distress. Findings suggest that more positive body appreciation and illness acceptance may be associated with improved psychological adjustment in adults with OI. Overall, body appreciation and illness identity appear to meaningfully contribute to the psychological adjustment of adults with OI and may be fruitful candidate targets for intervention efforts.