Table 2.
Demographic Characteristics.
| Characteristic | Participants (N = 20) |
|---|---|
| Age | 49.1 ± 9.56 |
| Sex | |
| Female | 19 (95.0%) |
| Male | 1 (5.0%) |
| Race | |
| White/Caucasian | 16 (80.0%) |
| Black/African American | 4 (20.0%) |
| Ethnicity | |
| Non-Hispanic | 17 (85.0%) |
| No response | 3 (15.0%) |
| Marital/partner status | |
| Married/partnered | 12 (60.0%) |
| Divorced/separated | 5 (25.0%) |
| Single | 3 (15.0%) |
| Years of education | 14.5 ± 2.37 |
| Years with fibromyalgia | 9.63 ± 11.17a |
| FIQ score | 71.20 ± 12.81b |
Notes. FIQ = Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.
Time since FM diagnosis ranged from <1 year to 27 years, with no differences in the meaning of the disease reported by those at the ends of the spectrum.
FIQ scores ranged from 20 to 100, with 90% (n = 18) of participants’ scores ranging from 60 to 95, that is, high disease impact (Bennett, Bushmakin, Cappelleri, Zlateva, & Sadosky, 2009; Burckhardt, Clark, & Bennett, 1991). FIQ scores reflect the disease severity level. Review of the data for the two participants whose FIQ total score was less than 60 did not reveal anything distinct or different that would set them apart from those who scored higher on the FIQ (high disease impact) nor did they reveal any differences regarding life events surrounding the time of onset of their FM as compared with those in the high disease impact group.