Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Fear-avoidance beliefs toward physical activity in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: insights from a cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
In axSpA, avoidance is predominantly associated with inflammatory disease activity, whereas in PsA it is more closely associated with psychological and quality-of-life-related factors.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) attending the Rheumatology Unit of Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital
- Participants
- 159 patients
- Exposure
- axSpA vs PsA
- axSpAn = 70
- PsAn = 89
- Outcome
- Prevalence of high physical activity avoidance beliefs (FABQ-PA scores ≥15)
Methodological detailsmonocentric, observational, consecutive patients
- Monocentric
- Observational
- Consecutive patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
High physical activity avoidance (FABQ-PA ≥15)
- Whole cohort
- 31.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Determinants of high avoidance in axSpA
- FABQ-PA ≥15 associated with higher disease activity, greater PC and poorer SF-36 scores
- Multivariable: BASDAI remained significantly associated; magnification retained a weaker independent association; SF-36 and other psychometric variables lost significance
Determinants of high avoidance in PsA
- FABQ-PA not associated with BASDAI or DAPSA
- High avoidance independently linked to female sex, higher helplessness and rumination, and lower SF-36, PhCS and MCS scores, even after adjusting for disease activity
Original publication
Fear-avoidance beliefs toward physical activity in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: insights from a cross-sectional study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 3 December 2025. doi:10.
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