{"id":{"repo_id":"loma-linda","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2112"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/loma-linda/oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2112","repository":{"repo_id":"loma-linda","name":"Loma Linda University","base_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Lifestyle and Rheumatoid Arthritis","abstract":"<p><strong>Objective</strong><strong>.</strong> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints. RA affects 0.5-2% of the population. Though it is predominantly a progressive disease, adjunct therapy may slow the destructive pathway or alleviate affiliated symptoms. This study examined the effects of lifestyle (diet and exercise) and self-efficacy on symptoms of RA as measured by disease activity and health satisfaction.</p> <p><strong>Methods.</strong> Seventy-five RA patients (77% female) from the Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Offices, Rheumatology Department completed self-assessment surveys on their lifestyle practices and RA affliction. Disease symptoms and activity were assessed with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales-symptoms (pain) component (AIMS2) and the Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR). Subjects also completed a RA self-efficacy scale and three outcome expectation items and questions that assessed their exercise patterns, dietary intake and current use of RA medication.</p> <p><strong>Results.</strong> Stepwise regression analysis revealed that, after controlling for demographics (n=60), high self-efficacy was associated with significantly fewer RA symptoms (AIMS2 [R<sup>2</sup>=.43; F (1,60) 6.06, p=.00001]; RADAR [R<sup>2</sup>=.59; F (1,60) 10.69, p^.000000004]) and greater health satisfaction (R<sup>2</sup>=.31; F [1,60] 4.39, p=.0002). A healthier diet was also associated with significantly greater health satisfaction.</p> <p>Separate analysis was conducted among exercisers due to the unique patterns and differences compared to all subjects. Among RA subjects who exercised (n=43). those who had higher self-efficacy and exercised more frequently had less pain (R<sup>2</sup>=.44; F [1,43] 4.31, p=.001). Higher self-efficacy was associated with less disease activity (R<sup>2</sup>=.49; F [1,43] 5.62, p=.0001). Exercisers with high self-efficacy and a strong belief that exercise can reduce the symptoms of RA reported greater health satisfaction (R<sup>2</sup>=.54; F [1,43] 5.51, p=.0001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong>. Results suggest that RA patients with greater self-efficacy report more favorable RA disease activity scores. Patients who followed a healthy diet and who exercised experienced improved RA outcomes. Future research should include diet and exercise recommendations and techniques for improving self-efficacy among RA patients.</p>","abstract_html":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt; Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints. RA affects 0.5-2% of the population. Though it is predominantly a progressive disease, adjunct therapy may slow the destructive pathway or alleviate affiliated symptoms. This study examined the effects of lifestyle (diet and exercise) and self-efficacy on symptoms of RA as measured by disease activity and health satisfaction.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods.&lt;/strong&gt; Seventy-five RA patients (77% female) from the Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Offices, Rheumatology Department completed self-assessment surveys on their lifestyle practices and RA affliction. Disease symptoms and activity were assessed with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales-symptoms (pain) component (AIMS2) and the Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR). Subjects also completed a RA self-efficacy scale and three outcome expectation items and questions that assessed their exercise patterns, dietary intake and current use of RA medication.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; Stepwise regression analysis revealed that, after controlling for demographics (n=60), high self-efficacy was associated with significantly fewer RA symptoms (AIMS2 [R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=.43; F (1,60) 6.06, p=.00001]; RADAR [R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=.59; F (1,60) 10.69, p^.000000004]) and greater health satisfaction (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=.31; F [1,60] 4.39, p=.0002). A healthier diet was also associated with significantly greater health satisfaction.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Separate analysis was conducted among exercisers due to the unique patterns and differences compared to all subjects. Among RA subjects who exercised (n=43). those who had higher self-efficacy and exercised more frequently had less pain (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=.44; F [1,43] 4.31, p=.001). Higher self-efficacy was associated with less disease activity (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=.49; F [1,43] 5.62, p=.0001). Exercisers with high self-efficacy and a strong belief that exercise can reduce the symptoms of RA reported greater health satisfaction (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;=.54; F [1,43] 5.51, p=.0001).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions&lt;/strong&gt;. Results suggest that RA patients with greater self-efficacy report more favorable RA disease activity scores. Patients who followed a healthy diet and who exercised experienced improved RA outcomes. Future research should include diet and exercise recommendations and techniques for improving self-efficacy among RA patients.&lt;/p&gt;","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Nazaroff, Leslie"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Helen Hopp Marshak","Edwin Krick","Jennifer Mason"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1998,"date_issued":"1998-10-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"1998-10-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:53:37Z","subjects":["Preventive Medicine","Public Health Education and Promotion","Arthritis, Rheumatoid","Cross-Sectional Studies","Life Style."],"languages":["English"],"rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1341","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Helen Hopp Marshak","Edwin Krick","Jennifer Mason"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Nazaroff, Leslie"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Preventive Medicine","Public Health Education and Promotion","Arthritis, Rheumatoid","Cross-Sectional Studies","Life Style."]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1341"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["<p><strong>Objective</strong><strong>.</strong> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints. RA affects 0.5-2% of the population. Though it is predominantly a progressive disease, adjunct therapy may slow the destructive pathway or alleviate affiliated symptoms. This study examined the effects of lifestyle (diet and exercise) and self-efficacy on symptoms of RA as measured by disease activity and health satisfaction.</p> <p><strong>Methods.</strong> Seventy-five RA patients (77% female) from the Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Offices, Rheumatology Department completed self-assessment surveys on their lifestyle practices and RA affliction. Disease symptoms and activity were assessed with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales-symptoms (pain) component (AIMS2) and the Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR). Subjects also completed a RA self-efficacy scale and three outcome expectation items and questions that assessed their exercise patterns, dietary intake and current use of RA medication.</p> <p><strong>Results.</strong> Stepwise regression analysis revealed that, after controlling for demographics (n=60), high self-efficacy was associated with significantly fewer RA symptoms (AIMS2 [R<sup>2</sup>=.43; F (1,60) 6.06, p=.00001]; RADAR [R<sup>2</sup>=.59; F (1,60) 10.69, p^.000000004]) and greater health satisfaction (R<sup>2</sup>=.31; F [1,60] 4.39, p=.0002). A healthier diet was also associated with significantly greater health satisfaction.</p> <p>Separate analysis was conducted among exercisers due to the unique patterns and differences compared to all subjects. Among RA subjects who exercised (n=43). those who had higher self-efficacy and exercised more frequently had less pain (R<sup>2</sup>=.44; F [1,43] 4.31, p=.001). Higher self-efficacy was associated with less disease activity (R<sup>2</sup>=.49; F [1,43] 5.62, p=.0001). Exercisers with high self-efficacy and a strong belief that exercise can reduce the symptoms of RA reported greater health satisfaction (R<sup>2</sup>=.54; F [1,43] 5.51, p=.0001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong>. Results suggest that RA patients with greater self-efficacy report more favorable RA disease activity scores. Patients who followed a healthy diet and who exercised experienced improved RA outcomes. Future research should include diet and exercise recommendations and techniques for improving self-efficacy among RA patients.</p>"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Lifestyle and Rheumatoid Arthritis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Helen Hopp Marshak","Edwin Krick","Jennifer Mason"],"dc:creator":["Nazaroff, Leslie"],"dc:description.abstract":["<p><strong>Objective</strong><strong>.</strong> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints. RA affects 0.5-2% of the population. Though it is predominantly a progressive disease, adjunct therapy may slow the destructive pathway or alleviate affiliated symptoms. This study examined the effects of lifestyle (diet and exercise) and self-efficacy on symptoms of RA as measured by disease activity and health satisfaction.</p> <p><strong>Methods.</strong> Seventy-five RA patients (77% female) from the Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Offices, Rheumatology Department completed self-assessment surveys on their lifestyle practices and RA affliction. Disease symptoms and activity were assessed with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales-symptoms (pain) component (AIMS2) and the Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR). Subjects also completed a RA self-efficacy scale and three outcome expectation items and questions that assessed their exercise patterns, dietary intake and current use of RA medication.</p> <p><strong>Results.</strong> Stepwise regression analysis revealed that, after controlling for demographics (n=60), high self-efficacy was associated with significantly fewer RA symptoms (AIMS2 [R<sup>2</sup>=.43; F (1,60) 6.06, p=.00001]; RADAR [R<sup>2</sup>=.59; F (1,60) 10.69, p^.000000004]) and greater health satisfaction (R<sup>2</sup>=.31; F [1,60] 4.39, p=.0002). A healthier diet was also associated with significantly greater health satisfaction.</p> <p>Separate analysis was conducted among exercisers due to the unique patterns and differences compared to all subjects. Among RA subjects who exercised (n=43). those who had higher self-efficacy and exercised more frequently had less pain (R<sup>2</sup>=.44; F [1,43] 4.31, p=.001). Higher self-efficacy was associated with less disease activity (R<sup>2</sup>=.49; F [1,43] 5.62, p=.0001). Exercisers with high self-efficacy and a strong belief that exercise can reduce the symptoms of RA reported greater health satisfaction (R<sup>2</sup>=.54; F [1,43] 5.51, p=.0001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong>. Results suggest that RA patients with greater self-efficacy report more favorable RA disease activity scores. Patients who followed a healthy diet and who exercised experienced improved RA outcomes. Future research should include diet and exercise recommendations and techniques for improving self-efficacy among RA patients.</p>"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1341"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"dc:subject":["Preventive Medicine","Public Health Education and Promotion","Arthritis, Rheumatoid","Cross-Sectional Studies","Life Style."],"dc:title":["A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Lifestyle and Rheumatoid Arthritis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:53:37Z"}