The impacts of state and trait anxiety as moderated by perceived social support among Nigerian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To assess the levels of state and trait anxiety and determine their relationships with perceived social support among Nigerian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 50 patients satisfying the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism Classification Criteria for RA was conducted. Anxiety was assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), perceived social support by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and disability by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI).