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Perceived Experience of Fatigue in Clinical and General Population: Descriptors and Associated Reactivities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2015

Sandra Fuentes-Márquez ,
Cristina Senín-Calderón ,
Juan F. Rodríguez-Testal  and
Miguel A. Carrasco
Sandra Fuentes-Márquez
Affiliation:
Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez (Spain)
Cristina Senín-Calderón
Affiliation:
Universidad de Cádiz (Spain)
Juan F. Rodríguez-Testal
Affiliation:
Universidad de Sevilla (Spain)
Miguel A. Carrasco*
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Miguel Ángel Carrasco Ortiz. Departamento de Psicología de la personalidad, evaluación y tratamientos psicológicos. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. C/ Juan del Rosal, 10. 28040. Madrid (Spain). E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of this study is the analysis of different descriptors and reactions related to the experience of fatigue. Two groups were compared: a clinical sample (n = 92, 31 males, mean age = 38.87) and a non-clinical (n = 225, 135 males, mean age = 32.45) sample. The total sample was composed of 317 participants (52% males), ranging in age from 18 to 76 years. Findings show the experience of fatigue was mainly related to somatic terms (76% of the total sample). Specific results were found only for the clinical group: (a) significant relationships between fatigue and anxiety, χ2(1) = 34.71, p < .01; tension, χ2(1) = 16.80, p < .01; and sadness, χ2(1) = 24.59, p < .01; (b) higher intensity of fatigue (F = 84.15, p = .001), and predominance of the cognitive components of fatigue. Results showed that fatigue in subjects with a clinical disorder (versus those without) was associated both, to negative emotional states, and to a higher intensity of fatigue, especially in its cognitive elements. Important clinical implications for its assessment and intervention are discussed.

Keywords

fatiguenegative emotionssomatic descriptors
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E9
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

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