IMPACT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS ON THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES IN WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

• Grant number: 25/07348-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Arias Avila Vera
• Grantee: Isadora de Oliveira Barbosa
• Supervisor: Carolina Climent-Sanz
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat Internacional De Catalunya, Campus Barcelona, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/12786-3 - IMPACT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS ON THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES IN WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY, BP.MS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with complex and multifactorial symptoms, predominantly affecting women. This project highlights two common and relevant issues in fibromyalgia: autonomic dysfunctions and hyperadiposity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether psychosocial factors are related to autonomic changes and body composition, and to compare the results of women with fibromyalgia to a control group of healthy women matched for age and body mass index. METHODS: This is a comparative cross-sectional observational study conducted in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Women diagnosed with fibromyalgia, according to the 2016 diagnostic criteria, and women without chronic pain (control group), matched by age (18 to 55 years) and Body Mass Index (BMI), will be recruited. After signing the Informed Consent Form, participants will be assessed in a single data collection day. During the assessment, sociodemographic data will be collected, followed by questionnaires to assess psychosocial aspects, including: fibromyalgia impact (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised); sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index); social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey); self-care (Appraisal of Self Care Agency Scale); anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); optimism (Life Orientation Test); and resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale). Anthropometric measures to be collected include body mass, height, and waist circumference. Autonomic dysfunction will be assessed through heart rate variability (HRV). A total of 32 women with fibromyalgia and 32 in the control group (n = 64) will be recruited. The SPSS software will be used for statistical analyses, including tests for normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), homogeneity (Levene), Pearson's correlation, Spearman's correlation, independent samples t-test (for parametric data), Mann-Whitney test (for non-parametric data), chi-square test, and regression analyses. A significance level of 5% will be adopted. EXPECTED RESULTS: Psychosocial aspects are expected to influence both anthropometric measures and autonomic changes, due to the interaction between emotional and social states with both outcomes. Exploring these complex interactions not only enhances our biopsychosocial understanding but also opens new perspectives for integrated treatment of medical and psychological conditions. (AU)