The relationship between symptom severity and self-compassion in fibromyalgia: A case-control study


Karagül S., Kartaloğlu I. F., Ağırbaş Ü. Ö.

Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/10538127261449003
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SportDiscus, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Fibromyalgia, psychosocial factors, self-compassion, symptom severity
  • İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: This single-center case-control study aimed to investigate the relationship between symptom severity and self-compassion level in adult women diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), independent of anxiety and depression effects. Objective: The study included 40 women with FMS who consecutively presented to a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic and 40 healthy controls matched for age and education level. Methods: Symptom severity was assessed using the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (rFIQ-TR), self-compassion using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-TR), and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-TR). Data were subjected to parametric/non-parametric comparisons, Spearman correlations, and multiple logistic regression after Shapiro-Wilk and Levene tests. Results: The SCS score was significantly lower in the FMS group than in the controls (71.2 ± 8.6 vs 86.1 ± 3.4; p < 0.001). A moderate-to-high negative correlation was found between rFIQ and SCS (ρ = –0.53; p < 0.001). In the logistic model, every 5-point increase in SCS reduced high symptom severity by 18% (OR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.94). ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.84 (0.74–0.93) for SCS; sensitivity = 0.80 and specificity = 0.78 were determined at a cutoff score of 74.5 points. Conclusion: A lack of self-compassion plays a significant role in increasing symptom burden in fibromyalgia syndrome. Based on the findings of our study, we recommend the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) in clinical practice for the early diagnosis of patients with high symptom severity and referral to self-compassion-based interventions.