Factors Impacting Quality of Life in People Living With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Relationships among pain, sleep, and occupational engagement are well known; however, evidence on these relationships relative to quality of life (QOL) remains limited. This study examines pain, sleep, and occupational engagement (including social-emotional contexts) as predictors of QOL in persons with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). This descriptive survey research was conducted over 5 months. Participants were recruited through three organizations and were aged 18 or older, diagnosed with CRPS, English-speaking, and equipped with internet access. The sample was predominantly White, female, urban, and middle-aged. Function, coping, pain, and sleep were predictive of QOL ( r 2 = .83). Occupational engagement, pain, coping, and sleep together predict QOL in people with CRPS. Future research would be beneficial to explore whether occupational engagement mediates the relationship between pain and QOL and between sleep and QOL in this population.