Table 3 Endorsement frequencies and completeness of ISMI-RA items
ISMI-RA item | Response | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
I feel out of place in the world because I have RA | Disagree | 60 (60.0) |
Agree | 40 (40.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People discriminate against me because I have RA | Disagree | 80 (80.0) |
Agree | 20 (20.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I avoid getting close to people who don’t have RA to avoid rejection | Disagree | 77 (77.0) |
Agree | 23 (23.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I am embarrassed or ashamed that I have RA | Disagree | 44 (44.0) |
Agree | 56 (56.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People with RA should not get married | Disagree | 100 (100.0) |
Agree | 0 | |
Missing | 0 | |
People with RA make important contributions to society | Disagree | 14 (14.0) |
Agree | 86 (86.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People with RA make important contributions to society | Disagree | 14 (14.0) |
Agree | 86 (86.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I feel inferior to others who don’t have RA | Disagree | 48 (48.0) |
Agree | 52 (52.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I do not socialize as much as I used to because my RA might make me look or behave in a “strange” way | Disagree | 69 (69.0) |
Agree | 31 (31.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People with RA cannot live a good, rewarding life | Disagree | 80 (80.0) |
Agree | 20 (20.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
Negative stereotypes against people with RA like myself keep me isolated from the “normal” world | Disagree | 81(81.0) |
Agree | 19 (19.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
Being around people who do not have RA makes me feel out of place or inadequate | Disagree | 49 (49.0) |
Agree | 51 (51.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I feel comfortable being seen in public who obviously has RA | Disagree | 13 (49.0) |
Agree | 87 (87.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People often patronise me, or treat me like a child, just because I have RA | Disagree | 84 (84.0) |
Agree | 16 (16.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I am disappointed in myself for having RA | Disagree | 33 (33.0) |
Agree | 67 (67.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
Having RA has spoiled my life | Disagree | 51 (51.0) |
Agree | 49 (49.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People can tell that I have RA by the way I look | Disagree | 48 (48.5) |
Agree | 51 (51.5) | |
Missing | 1 | |
Because I have RA, I need others to make most decisions for me | Disagree | 97 (97.0) |
Agree | 3 (3.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I stay away from social situations in order to protect my family or friends from embarrassment | Disagree | 74 (74.0) |
Agree | 26 (26.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People without RA could not possibly understand me | Disagree | 23 (23.0) |
Agree | 77 (77.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
People ignore me or take me less seriously just because I have RA | Disagree | 89 (89.0) |
Agree | 11 (11.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I cannot contribute anything to society because I have RA | Disagree | 82 (82.0) |
Agree | 18 (18.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
Living with RA has made me a tough survivor | Disagree | 58 (58.0) |
Agree | 42 (42.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
Nobody would be interested in getting close to me because I have RA | Disagree | 91 (91.0) |
Agree | 9 (9.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
In general, I am able to live life the way I want to | Disagree | 29 (29.0) |
Agree | 71 (71.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I can have a good, fulfilling life, despite my RA | Disagree | 23 (29.0) |
Agree | 77 (77.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
Others think that I cannot achieve much in life because I have RA | Disagree | 85 (85.9) |
Agree | 14 (14.1) | |
Missing | 1 | |
Stereotypes about RA apply to me | Disagree | 87 (87.0) |
Agree | 13 (13.0) | |
Missing | 0 | |
I don’t talk about myself much because I don’t want to burden others with my RA | Disagree | 77 (77.0) |
Agree | 23 (23.0) | |
Missing | 0 |