Abstract
Studies have documented that interpersonal stress and support seem to influence disease activity in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease.
The purpose of this study was to gain increased knowledge about the daily life experiences of interpersonal stress and support among women with rheumatic disease. Based on a phenomenological approach three women with chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis was applied for analysing the taped and transcribed interviews.
The findings indicate mutual relations between self-confidence and interpersonal interactions in the daily experiences of stress and support. The responders' self-confidence is challenged by social role expectations, relations to others and experiences of suffering. On the other hand self-confidence influences their interpersonal relationships. The experience of support seems to be consistent with situations and relations that strengthen a positive self-confidence, while the experience of stress is related to situations and social interactions that weaken their self-confidence. The findings remind the health professionals of the significance of self-confidence in the process of coping with stress for these three women with rheumatic disease.