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A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Psychological Determinants of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a Comparison Between a Portuguese and a Dutch Patient Sample

International Journal of Behavioral Medicine volume 20, pages 229–238 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Few studies focus on cross-cultural differences in Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Purpose

This study aimed to (1) compare fatigue severity and impairment, somatic complaints, psychological distress, and quality of life (QoL) in a population of Portuguese and Dutch patients; (2) explore the differential contribution of behavioral and cognitive determinants of fatigue severity; and (3) investigate the relation between fatigue severity and somatic complaints on one hand and QoL on the other in both populations.

Method

Eighty-five female patients from Portugal (Mean age = 47.54) and 167 female CFS patients from The Netherlands (Mean age = 44.93) participated in the study. All participants were surveyed for demographic and clinical characteristics, fatigue severity, somatic symptoms, psychological distress, (physical and psychological) QoL, physical activity, behavior regulation patterns, and illness representations.

Results

Cross-cultural differences were found in relation to working status, duration of fatigue symptoms, psychological distress, somatic complaints, and psychological QoL. Although behavioral characteristics and illness representations were significantly associated with fatigue severity in both Portuguese and Dutch patients, there were important differences in the determinants of CFS. Moreover, higher levels of fatigue and severity of other somatic complaints were related to poor QoL.

Conclusions

These findings show cross-cultural similarities and differences in clinical characteristics and psychological determinants of CFS that are important in view of diagnosis and treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was carried out as part of a grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/47579/2008). The authors would like to thank the patients that participated in this research, the medical doctors from the health care institutions, and the volunteers from the patients associations in both countries.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, P.O. BOX 955, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands

    M. Marques, V. De Gucht & S. Maes

  2. Psychology and Health Research Unit (UIPES), ISPA-University Institute, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal

    M. Marques & I. Leal

Authors
  1. M. Marques
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  2. V. De Gucht
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  3. I. Leal
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  4. S. Maes
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Correspondence to M. Marques.

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Marques, M., De Gucht, V., Leal, I. et al. A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Psychological Determinants of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a Comparison Between a Portuguese and a Dutch Patient Sample. Int.J. Behav. Med. 20, 229–238 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-012-9265-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-012-9265-y

Keywords

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Fatigue severity
  • Psychological determinants
  • Cross-cultural