Andrea, H., Beurskens, A. J. H. M., Kant, I. J., Davey, G. C. L., Field, A. P., &van Schayck, C. P. (2004). The relation between pathological worrying and fatigue in a working population.

Objective

This study aimed to explore cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between pathological worry and fatigue in a working population.

Methods

In employees with very low or very high fatigue levels, psychometrics of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; measuring pathological worry) and the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS; measuring fatigue) were examined and their cross-sectional and longitudinal associations were explored.

Results

Pathological worry and fatigue can be measured as different constructs. However, pathological worry and fatigue were also associated on a cross-sectional level. Pathological worry predicted fatigue level 10 months later, but this association disappeared after adjustment for the cross-sectional association between pathological worry and fatigue.

Conclusion

Although they can be measured as different constructs, pathological worry and fatigue seem to be associated. When studying longitudinal relations between pathological worry and fatigue, their cross-sectional association should be taken into account. Pathological worry might not be a risk factor for fatigue per se, but might act more like a mediating factor.

Andrea, H., Beurskens, A. J. H. M., Kant, I. J., Davey, G. C. L., Field, A. P., & van Schayck, C. P. (2004). The relation between pathological worrying and fatigue in a working population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57(4), 399-407.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2003.09.013