Résumé
Objective@#To explore the mediating effect of self-efficacy for exercise on social support and kinesiophobia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), so as to provide insights into alleviating fear for exercise and formulating exercise intervention programs.@*Methods@#RA patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Harbin City from June to December 2023 were selected, and the levels of kinesiophobia, self-efficacy for exercise and social support were investigated using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (Chinese version), the Self-Efficacy for Exercise and the Social Support Rating Scale, respectively. The mediating effect of self-efficacy for exercise on social support and kinesiophobia was examined using a structural equation model.@*Results@#A total of 216 people were investigated, including 45 males (20.83%) and 171 females (79.17%), with the median age of 54.00 (interquartile range, 13.75) years. There were 159 of patients living in the urban areas, accounting for 73.61%. There were 102 of patients with a disease course of 1 to 5 years, accounting for 47.22%. The median scores of kinesiophobia, self-efficacy for exercise and social support were 31.00 (interquartile range, 5.00), 5.00 (interquartile range, 2.00) and 39.50 (interquartile range, 17.00), respectively. Social support had a direct negative effect on kinesiophobia (effect value=-0.358, P<0.05) and a indirect negative effect on kinesiophobia through self-efficacy for exercise (effect value=-0.887, P<0.05), and the mediating effect contributed 93.86% to the total effect.@*Conclusion@#Social support can directly or indirectly influence kinesiophobia through self-efficacy for exercise among patients with RA.