Physical Activity, Kinesiophobia, Pain Catastrophizing, Body Awareness, Depression and Disease Activity in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross‐Sectional Explorative Study

ABSTRACT Objective/Aim The aim was to compare the levels of physical activity, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, body awareness, and depression in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and to explore the associations between these outcomes and disease activity. Methods Seventy‐eight patients with AS ( n = 30) and RA ( n = 48) were included. Outcomes were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire‐Short Form, the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Body Awareness Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Disease activity levels were determined using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index for AS and the Disease Activity Score 28 score for RA. Results AS patients were younger, had a higher proportion of men, and were more physically active than RA patients ( p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited high levels of kinesiophobia but low levels of pain catastrophizing, similar body awareness and mild depression scores. Moderate correlations ( r ≥ 0.5) were observed between kinesiophobia and depression, body awareness and pain catastrophizing and depression, and pain catastrophizing and disease activity in AS patients. In RA patients, moderate correlations ( r ≥ 0.5) were found between kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing. Conclusion Addressing physical activity, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, body awareness, and depression is important in managing AS and RA patients. Notably, correlations among outcomes differed between groups, with more significant correlations in AS. Further studies are needed to explore these in greater detail.