Poster Session #1: UC South Ballroom
EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND THE IMPACT OF FIBROMYALGIA ON A SUFFERER’S LIFE
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Kathy Kuipers
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Sociology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
An individual who has a low socioeconomic status has a greater risk of developing health problems(Alder 1994). I focus on the musculoskeletal disorder, Fibromyalgia, and hypothesize that people with lower socioeconomic status and from rural areas, will experience more severe health problems related to Fibromyalgia than those with higher socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status is measured by one’s income, occupation, and educational attainment. Data have been collected by inviting participants in Fibromyalgia online support groups to participate in an online survey. Although I have not yet completed my data analysis, I expect to find that patients with lower incomes will have less access to treatment resources, fewer opportunities for medical and emotional support, and more frustrations with adjusting to life with their disorder. By determining if one’s socioeconomic status and isolation of community does affect the severity of their experience with Fibromyalgia, then programs can be designed to counteract this effect and increase the chance of treatment of the disorder.
EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND THE IMPACT OF FIBROMYALGIA ON A SUFFERER’S LIFE
UC South Ballroom
An individual who has a low socioeconomic status has a greater risk of developing health problems(Alder 1994). I focus on the musculoskeletal disorder, Fibromyalgia, and hypothesize that people with lower socioeconomic status and from rural areas, will experience more severe health problems related to Fibromyalgia than those with higher socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status is measured by one’s income, occupation, and educational attainment. Data have been collected by inviting participants in Fibromyalgia online support groups to participate in an online survey. Although I have not yet completed my data analysis, I expect to find that patients with lower incomes will have less access to treatment resources, fewer opportunities for medical and emotional support, and more frustrations with adjusting to life with their disorder. By determining if one’s socioeconomic status and isolation of community does affect the severity of their experience with Fibromyalgia, then programs can be designed to counteract this effect and increase the chance of treatment of the disorder.