Relationship between Hope, Optimism, Emotional regulation, and Pain in Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Individuals with FM often face challenges in managing chronic pain and its impact on daily life. A study conducted on various samples have shown that high levels of hope and optimism is associated with lesser amount of pain. A meta-analysis done from 83 studies indicate physical health outcomes such as physical symptoms and pain is affected optimism. Higher levels of emotional regulation and optimism related to lower levels of stress, anxiety, depression in 366 health care students. Emotional regulations, anxiety, depression, anger, pain, and disability when studied in population with fibromyalgia indicated greater difficulties in regulating emotions. It is also proven that high hopes are related to lesser fatigue and stress in FM patients. Hope is a positive emotional state characterized by the anticipation and belief that positive outcomes are possible in the future. Optimism is a generalized expectation that good things will happen in the future. It involves a positive outlook on life, with the belief that positive outcomes are more likely than negative ones. The measures of hope, optimism and emotional regulation have not been studied extensively in FM in India. This study aims to find the correlation between hope, optimism, emotional regulation, and pain in FM patients. The hypothesis of this study is that high levels of hope, optimism and emotional regulation is related to lower levels of pain in individuals. Studying hope and optimism can provide insights into how these positive psychological factors contribute to improved coping with pain and better emotional regulation for individuals with fibromyalgia.