Asbring, P · Journal of advanced nursing · 2001 · DOI
This study looked at how women with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia experience major changes to their sense of self and identity after becoming ill. Researchers interviewed 25 Swedish women about how they adjusted to these illnesses, and found that while the conditions caused significant disruption to their work and social lives, many women also discovered unexpected positive aspects of their new identity as they adapted.
Understanding how ME/CFS fundamentally alters patients' sense of identity and self-concept is crucial for comprehensive patient care and recognition of the profound psychosocial impact of these conditions. This study highlights that identity transformation involves both significant losses and unexpected gains, which can inform more holistic support strategies that acknowledge the complex psychological adaptation process.
This qualitative study does not establish causality or provide quantitative prevalence data about identity disruption across all ME/CFS and fibromyalgia populations. The findings are specific to Swedish women and may not generalize to other demographics, healthcare systems, or cultural contexts. The study cannot determine whether observed identity changes are directly caused by illness symptoms versus psychosocial responses to diagnosis and social factors.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Asbring, P (2001). Chronic illness -- a disruption in life: identity-transformation among women with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.. Journal of advanced nursing. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01767.x
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-asbring-2001-chronic-illness,
author = {Asbring, P},
title = {Chronic illness -- a disruption in life: identity-transformation among women with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.},
journal = {Journal of advanced nursing},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01767.x},
note = {PubMed: 11328436},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/asbring-2001-chronic-illness},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/asbring-2001-chronic-illness
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