Effects of illness perception on negative emotions and fatigue in chronic rheumatic diseases: Rumination as a possible mediator

Table 1 Sociodemographic and disease characteristics of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases

	RA	SLE	t-test or chi-squared test	P value
Overall n (%)	33 (62.3)	20 (37.7)
Gender
Male	7 (21.2)	2 (10.0)	χ2 = 1.110, 1 df	0.292
Female	26 (78.8)	18 (90.0)
mean age (SD)	61.12 ± 15.00	37.10 ± 13.52	t = 5.860	< 0.001
Ethnicity
Chinese	26 (78.8)	11 (55.0)	χ2 = 5.915	0.116
Malay	2 (6.1)	6 (30.0)
Indian	4 (12.1)	2 (10.0)
Others	1 (3.0)	1 (5.0)
Education
Primary school	14 (43.8)	3 (15.0)	χ2 = 6.150	0.046
Secondary school	10 (31.3)	6 (30.0)
Tertiary and university	8 (25.0)	11 (55.0)
Marital status
Married	24 (72.7)	10 (50.0)	χ2 = 0.140	0.085
Single	9 (27.3)	10 (50.0)
Employment
Employed	19 (57.6)	16 (80.0)	χ2 = 7.158	0.007
Unemployed	14 (42.4)	4 (20.0)
Financial status
Poor	3 (9.1)	1 (5.0)	χ2 = 1.620	0.445
Average	26 (78.8)	14 (70.0)
Good	4 (12.1)	5 (25.0)
Duration of illness	4.24 ± 4.30	4.87 ± 5.51	t = 0.454	0.343
Receiving long-term medication
Yes	31 (93.9)	19 (95.0)	χ2 = 0.026	0.871
No	2 (6.1)	1 (5.0)
Hospitalisation in the previous year as a result of RA or SLE
Yes	7 (21.2)	8 (40.0)	χ2 = 2.166	0.141
No	26 (78.8)	12 (60.0)

Discrete variables (gender) were compared using the chi-squared test and df and χ² are presented in the table. Continuous variables were compared with independent sample t test and t values are presented. SLE: Systemic lupus erythematosus; RA: Rheumatoid arthritis.