Jason, Leonard A, Brown, Molly, Evans, Meredyth et al. · Journal Of Human Behavior In The Social Environment · 2012 · DOI
This study asked ME/CFS patients to keep detailed activity logs to understand what triggers their fatigue. Researchers looked at what patients were doing, what they had been doing 30 minutes earlier, and their fatigue levels to find patterns. The study suggests that tracking daily activities can help doctors and patients see which activities are most connected to fatigue flare-ups.
Activity logging is a practical, accessible tool that patients and clinicians can use together to identify personal fatigue triggers and patterns. Understanding what activities precede fatigue crashes may help patients make informed decisions about pacing and activity management, which is central to many ME/CFS treatment approaches.
This study cannot prove that specific activities cause fatigue; it only shows associations between activities and fatigue levels. The research does not establish whether immune markers (TH2/TH1 shift) directly influence fatigue or explain the underlying biological mechanisms. Results may not generalize to all CFS patients, as individual responses to activity vary widely.
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
Jason, Leonard A, Brown, Molly, Evans, Meredyth, & Brown, Abigail (2012). Predictors of Fatigue among Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.. Journal Of Human Behavior In The Social Environment. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2012.707896
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-jason-2012-predictors-fatigue,
author = {Jason, Leonard A and Brown, Molly and Evans, Meredyth and Brown, Abigail},
title = {Predictors of Fatigue among Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.},
journal = {Journal Of Human Behavior In The Social Environment},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1080/10911359.2012.707896},
note = {PubMed: 24643250},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jason-2012-predictors-fatigue},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jason-2012-predictors-fatigue
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