Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between illness attributions and general attributional style in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
METHOD: Participants with CFS answered questions on their explanation for their illness and completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire (parallel form).
RESULTS: Of the participants, 58.3% attributed their illness to predominantly physical factors. A significant relationship was found between the presence of a self-serving attributional style and illness attributions.
CONCLUSION: Illness attributions were associated with an individual’s general attributional style. It is suggested that illness attributions may be less important with regards prognosis than, for example, other variables which influence a person’s general view of the world.
Source: Creswell C, Chalder T. The relationship between illness attributions and attributional style in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Br J Clin Psychol. 2003 Mar;42(Pt 1):101-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12675983