Sedentary behaviour in rheumatoid arthritis-barriers and facilitators, a qualitative analysis.
4 affiliations
- 1School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
- 2NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham and the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
- 3Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
- 4Centre for Movement and Wellbeing (MoveWell), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
Sedentary behaviour (SB) is a modifiable risk factor in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SB interventions may be more acceptable where pain, fatigue and fluctuating disease activity limit physical activity (PA). To inform the development of effective/scalable interventions, this study aimed to: (1) determine how people with RA conceptualize SB and (2) explore lived experiences of SB to identify barriers and facilitators. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults with RA, recruited in the UK using opportunistic and snowball sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Participants (n = 14) used SB, activity, movement and PA/exercise interchangeably. Three themes were generated. Motivation explained engagement or breaks in SB; SB was reduced when movement was meaningful, enjoyable or linked to valued roles. Anticipated effort and fear of pain reinforced SB. Resilience and adaptive strategies reduced SB, while competing demands reinforced SB. Movement, captured negotiation between activity and rest, shaped by physical symptoms, contextual factors and sociocultural influences. The same factors (e.g. family) operated as a facilitator and barrier. Participants recognized that rest prevented exacerbations, however, prolonged sedentariness worsened stiffness and function. Identity in Flux, reflected changes in perceived capability, stigma and loss of identity reinforcing SB for some, while others reconstructed identity to maintain valued roles and social participation. SB is shaped by psychological, social and contextual determinants, not symptoms alone. Interventions should adopt identity-sensitive, flexible approaches that enhance meaningful motivations and address pain-related fears, rather than relying on prescriptive targets.
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BibTeX
@article{kitas2026sedentary,
title = {{Sedentary behaviour in rheumatoid arthritis-barriers and facilitators, a qualitative analysis.}},
author = {Florentia Kitas and Carolyn Greig and Matthew Willett and Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten and Sally A M Fenton},
journal = {Rheumatology advances in practice},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/rap/rkag137},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997571},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sedentary behaviour in rheumatoid arthritis-barriers and facilitators, a qualitative analysis.
AU - Florentia Kitas
AU - Carolyn Greig
AU - Matthew Willett
AU - Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten
AU - Sally A M Fenton
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Rheumatology advances in practice
DO - 10.1093/rap/rkag137
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997571
AB - Sedentary behaviour (SB) is a modifiable risk factor in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SB interventions may be more acceptable where pain, fatigue and fluctuating disease activity limit physical activity (PA). To inform the development of effective/scalable interventions, this study aimed to: (1) determine how people with RA conceptualize SB and (2) explore lived experiences of SB to identify barriers and facilitators. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults with RA, recruited in the UK using opportunistic and snowball sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Participants (n = 14) used SB, activity, movement and PA/exercise interchangeably. Three themes were generated. Motivation explained engagement or breaks in SB; SB was reduced when movement was meaningful, enjoyable or linked to valued roles. Anticipated effort and fear of pain reinforced SB. Resilience and adaptive strategies reduced SB, while competing demands reinforced SB. Movement, captured negotiation between activity and rest, shaped by physical symptoms, contextual factors and sociocultural influences. The same factors (e.g. family) operated as a facilitator and barrier. Participants recognized that rest prevented exacerbations, however, prolonged sedentariness worsened stiffness and function. Identity in Flux, reflected changes in perceived capability, stigma and loss of identity reinforcing SB for some, while others reconstructed identity to maintain valued roles and social participation. SB is shaped by psychological, social and contextual determinants, not symptoms alone. Interventions should adopt identity-sensitive, flexible approaches that enhance meaningful motivations and address pain-related fears, rather than relying on prescriptive targets.
SN - 2514-1775
ER -