Journal of Chronic Fatgigue Syndrome
Volume 13, Number 4, 2006


Conservation of Resources and Quality of Life in
Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Renée R. Taylor, Supriya Kulkarni, Yukiko Shiraishi.

Objective:

To examine the relationship between resources and quality of
life in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Participants and Study Design:

A cross-sectional design was used to describe associations
between resource loss and gain and quality of life for 47
individuals diagnosed with CFS.

Main Outcome Measures:

The Conservation of Resources Evaluation was used to
measure resources in terms of perceived loss and gain.
Health-related quality of life was assessed with the Quality of
Life Index.

Results:

Total resource loss and total resource gain were significant
correlates of overall quality of life. Gains in self-esteem, energy,
and work resources were associated with higher-perceived
quality of life. Material loss and energy loss were associated
with lower-perceived quality of life.

Conclusions:

Findings for the relationships between perceived resources of
self-esteem, work, material items, and energy and perceived
quality of life can be used inform future rehabilitation efforts.
These relationships appear to occur independently of illness
severity among individuals CFS.

KEYWORDS.
Conservation of resources theory, quality of life, chronic fatigue
syndrome.