My research in this area has examined the various ways that people cope with life challenges, including adjustment to chronic health conditions, and other stressful life circumstances. I’m particularly interested in the factors that contribute to resilience and promote quality of life in contexts where control over stressors is limited.
Podcasts
Phoenix Helix podcast on the role of gratitude for coping with autoimmune disorders.
Journal Articles menu
Journal Articles – Coping with Chronic Health Conditions
Arthritis
Charzyńska, E., Offenbächer, M., Halverson, K., Hirsch, J. K., Kohls, N., Hanshans, C., Sirois, F. M., & Toussaint, L. (2025). Profiles of well-being and their associations with self-forgiveness, forgiveness of others, and gratitude among patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. British Journal of Health Psychology, 30, e12749 (IF = 3.5). Link
*Hinch, R., & Sirois, F. M. (2024). A meta-analysis of coping strategies and psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis. British Journal of Health Psychology, 29, 771-787 (IF = 3.5). Open access.
Hirsch, J. K., Altier, H.R., Offenbächer, M., Toussaint, L., Kohls, N., & Sirois, F. M. (2021). Positive psychological factors and impairment in rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease: Do psychopathology and sleep quality explain the linkage? Arthritis Care and Research, 73, 55-64 (IF = 4.06). Link
Hirsch, J.K., Toussaint, L., Offenbächer, M., Kohls, N., Hanshans, C., Vallejo, M., Rivera, J., Sirois, F. M., Untner, J., Hölzl, B., Gaisberger, M., Ndosi, M. (2020). Educational needs of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases attending a large health facility in Austria. Musculoskeletal Care, 18, 391-396. (IF = 1.16) Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Wood, A. M. (2017). Gratitude uniquely predicts lower depression in chronic illness populations: A longitudinal study of inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. Health Psychology, 36, 122-132. (IF = 6.12). Link | Self-archived link
Sirois, F. M. (2014). Positive psychological qualities and adjustment to arthritis. OA Arthritis, 2, (1), 1-4. Open access.
Sirois, F. M., & Hirsch, J. K., (2013). Associations of psychological thriving with coping efficacy, expectations for future growth, and depressive symptoms over time in people with arthritis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 75, 279-286. (IF = 3.01). Link | Self-archived version
Fibromyalgia
Brooks, B., Kaniuka, A., Rabon, J., Sirois, F. M., & Hirsch, J. (2022). Social support and subjective health in fibromyalgia: Self-compassion as a mediator. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 29, 375–383. (IF = 2.62) Link
Offenbächer, M., Kohls, N., Ewert, T., Sigl, C., Hieblinger, R., Toussaint, L., Sirois, F. M., Hirsch, J. K., Vallejo, M., Kramer, S. Rivera, J., Stucki, G., Schelling, J., & Winelmann, A. (2021). Pain is not the major determinant of Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia – results from a retrospective “real world” data analysis of fibromyalgia patients. Rheumatology International, 41, 1995-2006. (IF = 1.98). Link
Vallejo, M. A., Vallejo-Slocker, L., Offenbacher, M., Hirsch, J.K., Toussaint, L. L., Kohls, N., Sirois, F. M., & Rivera, J. (2021). Psychological flexibility is key for reducing the severity and impact of fibromyalgia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (14). (IF = 4.61) Open access
Hirsch, J.K., Treaster, M., Kaniuka, A., Brooks, B., Sirois, F. M., Kohls, N., Nöfer, E., Toussaint, L., & Offenbächer, M. (2020). Fibromyalgia impact and depression: Can perceiving a silver lining make a difference? Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 61, 543-548 (IF = 2.31). Link | Self-archived version
Rowe, C.A., Sirois, F.M., Toussaint, L., Kohls, N., Nöfer, E., Offenbächer, M. & Hirsch, J.K. (2019). Health beliefs, attitudes, and health-related quality of life in persons with fibromyalgia: Mediating role of treatment adherence. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 24, 962-977. (IF = 3.90). Link | Self-archived version
Chang, E. C., Lucas, A. G., Chang, O. D., Angoff, H., Li, M., Duong, A. H., Huang, J., Perera, M. J Sirois, F. M., & Hirsch, J. K. (2019). Relationship between future orientation and pain severity in fibromyalgia patients: Self-compassion as a coping mechanism. Social Work, 64, 253–258. (IF = 2.86). Link | Self-archived version
Toussaint, L. L., Sirois, F. M., Hirsch, J. K., Weber, A., Vajda, C., Schelling, J., C., Kohls, N., & Offenbächer, M. (2019). Anger rumination mediates differences between fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls on mental health and quality of life. Personality and Mental Health, 13, 119–133 (IF = 3.30). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., Toussaint, L. L.,Hirsch, J. K., Kohls, N., Weber, A., & Offenbächer, M. (2019). Trying to be perfect in an imperfect world: A person-centred test of perfectionism and health in fibromyalgia patients versus healthy controls. Personality and Individual Differences, 137, 27-32. (IF = 3.95). Link | Self-archived version
Toussaint, L. L., Sirois, F. M., Hirsch, J. K., Weber, A., Vajda, C., Schelling, J., C., Kohls, N., & Offenbächer, M. (2017). Gratitude partially explains quality of life differences between fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls. Quality of Life Research, 26, 2449-2457 (IF = 3.44). Link | Self-archived version
Offenbaecher, M., Dezutter, J., Kohls, N., Sigl, C., Vallejo, M. A., Rivera, J., Bauerdorf, F., Schelling, J., Vincent, A., Hirsch, J., Sirois, F. M., & Toussaint, L. L. (2017). Struggling with adversities of life: The role of forgiveness in patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Clinical Journal of Pain, 33, 528–534. (IF = 3.42). Link | Self-archived version
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Essex, R., Booth, L., Sirois, F. M., Burch, J., & Dibley, L. (2025). A scoping review of the qualitative literature reporting experiences of living with a stoma for inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81, 53-68. (IF = 3.8). Open access
Trindade, I. & Sirois, F. M. (2021). The prospective effects of self-compassion on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress: A study in inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 146, 110429 (IF = 4.62). Link | Archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Hirsch, J. K. (2017). A longitudinal study of the profiles of psychological thriving, resilience and loss in people with inflammatory bowel disease. British Journal of Health Psychology, 22, 920-939 (IF = 8.01). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M. (2014). Health-related self-perceptions over time and provider–based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in people with inflammatory bowel disease or arthritis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22, 701-709. (IF = 3.34). Link | Self-archived version.
Gick, M. L. & Sirois, F. M. (2010). Insecure attachment moderates women’s adjustment to inflammatory bowel disease severity. Rehabilitation Psychology, 55, 170-179. (IF = 3.71) Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M. (2009). Psychological adjustment to inflammatory bowel disease: The importance of considering disease activity. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 104, 2970-2972. (IF = 12.05) Link | Self-archived version
*Voth, J., &Sirois, F. M. (2009). The role of self-blame and responsibility in adjustment to inflammatory bowel disease. Rehabilitation Psychology, 54(1), 99-108. (IF = 3.71). Link | Self-archived version
*Wolfe, B., & Sirois, F. M. (2008). Beyond standard quality of life measures: The subjective experiences of living with inflammatory bowel disease. Quality of Life Research, 16 (7), 877-886. (IF = 4.15) Link | Self-archived version
Other Chronic Conditions
*Baxter, R., & Sirois, F. M. (2025). Self-compassion and psychological distress in chronic illness: A meta-analysis. British Journal of Health Psychology, 80, e12761 (IF = 3.5). Open access.
*Shepherd, L., Sirois, F. M., Harcourt, D., Norman, P., & Thompson, A. R. (2024). Early appearance concerns after burns: Investigating the roles of psychological flexibility and self-compassion. Body Image, 51 (IF =5.2). Open access
Toussaint, L., Huynh, K., Kohls, N., Ewert, T., Sirois, F. M., Alberst, H., Hirsch, J. K., Hanshans, C., Nguyen, A., Van der Zee-Neuen, A., & Offenbächer, M. (2023). Expectations regarding Gastein Healing Gallery treatment and their connection to health-related quality of life. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IF = 4.61). Open Access
Finlay-Jones, A., Parkinson, A. Sirois, F. M., Perry, Y., Boyes, M., & Rees, C. (2023). Web-based self-compassion training to improve the wellbeing of youth with chronic medical conditions: A randomised control trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research. (IF = 5.8). Open access
Sirois, F. M., Toussaint, L. L.,Hirsch, J. K., Kohls, N., & Offenbächer, M. (2021). A person-centred test of multidimensional perfectionism and health in people with chronic fatigue syndrome versus healthy controls. Personality and Individual Differences, 181, 111036. (IF = 3.95). Link | Self-archived version
Finlay-Jones, A., Boyes, M., Perry, Y., Sirois, F. M., Lee, R., Rees, C. (2020). Online self-compassion training to improve the wellbeing of youth with chronic medical conditions: Protocol for a randomised control trial. BMC Public Health, 20:106. (IF = 4.14). Open access.
Sanftenberg, L., Badermann, M., Kohls, N., Weber, A., Schelling, J., Sirois, F. M., . . . Offenbächer, M. (2020). Effects of lifestyle interventions for arterial hypertension in primary care: A systematic review. Zeitschrift für Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen, 150-152, 12-19. Link
*Clegg, S., Sirois, F.M., & Reuber, M. (2019). Self-compassion and adjustment in epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Epilepsy & Behaviour, 100. (IF = 3.34). Link | Self-archived version
Sanftenberg, L., van Dyck, M., Bucksch, J., Weber, A., Schelling, J., Kohls, N., Sirois, F.M., Toussaint, L., Hirsch, J.K., Offenbächer, M. (2019). Körperliche Aktivität und potenzielle Korrelate bei Hämodialyse patienten / Physical activity and potential correlates in hemodialysis patients. Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung, 14, 290–297. Link
*Baird, H., Webb, T. L., Martin, J., & Sirois, F.M. (2019). The relationship between time perspective and self-monitoring of blood glucose among people with type 1 diabetes. Annals of Behavioural Medicine, 53, 196–209. (IF = 4.87). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Hirsch, J. K. (2019). Self-compassion and adherence in five medical groups: The role of stress. Mindfulness, 10, 46-54. (IF = 3.80). Open access
Sirois, F. M., & Rowse, G. (2016). The role of self-compassion in chronic illness care. Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management, 23, 521-527. Link | Archived version
Hirsch, J.K., Sirois, F. M., Molnar, D. S., & Chang, E. C. (2016). Pain and depressive symptoms in primary care: Positive and negative affect as moderators. The Clinical Journal of Pain 32(7), 562-7. (IF = 3.42). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Gick, M. L. (2016). An appraisal-based coping model of attachment and adjustment to arthritis. Journal of Health Psychology, 21, 821-831 (IF = 3.79). Link | Self-archived version.
Hirsch, J.K., & Sirois, F.M. (2016). Hope and fatigue in chronic illness: The role of perceived stress. Journal of Health Psychology, 21, 451-456 (IF = 3.79). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M. (2015). Who looks forward to better health? Personality and future health in the context of chronic illness. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 22, 569-579. (IF = 2.50). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M. (2015). Is procrastination a vulnerability factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease? Testing an extension of the procrastination-health model. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 38, 578-589 (IF = 3.47). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., Molnar, D. S., & Hirsch, J. K. (2015). Self-compassion, stress and coping in the context of chronic Illness. Self and Identity, 14, 334-347. (IF = 2.41). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Molnar, D. (2014). Perfectionism and maladaptive coping styles in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia/arthritis, and in healthy controls. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83, 384-385. (IF = 25.62). Link | Self-archived version
*Wolfe, B. J., O’Toole, A., Tan, J., & Sirois, F. M. (2011). Psoriasis patients’ reflections on provider information giving: Perceptions of actual and desired experiences at diagnosis. Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, 17a(4), 283-289. Link
Sirois, F. M., Davis, C. G., & Morgan, M. (2006). “Learning to live with what you can’t rise above”: Control beliefs, symptom control, and adjustment to tinnitus. Health Psychology, 25(1), 119-123. (IF = 5.56). Link | Self-archived version
Journal Articles – Coping with other stressors
Chen, Z., Feng, P., Becker, B., Nassar, M., Sirois, F. M., Hommel, B., Zhang, C., He, Q., Qui, J., He, L., Lei, X., Chen, H., Feng, T. (2021). Neural connectome encodes the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurobiology of Stress, 15, 100378. (IF = 5.44). Open access
Hirsch, J.K., Hall, B.B., Wise, H.A., Brooks, B.D., Chang, E.C., & Sirois, F.M. (2021). Negative life events and suicide risk in college students: Conditional indirect effects of hopelessness and self-compassion. Journal of American College Health, 69, 546-553. (IF = 2.39) Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Owens, J. (2021). Factors associated with psychological distress in health-care workers during an infectious disease outbreak: A rapid systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry (IF = 5.44) Open access
Millings, A., Hirst, S., Sirois, F. M., & Houlston, C. (2020). Emotional Adaptation to Relationship Dissolution: A new conceptual model and measure. PLoS ONE. (IF = 2.74) Open access
Rabon, J.K., Hirsch, J.K., Kaniuka, A., Sirois, F.M., Brooks, B.D., & Neff, K. (2019). Self-compassion and suicide risk in veterans: When the going gets tough, do the tough benefit more from self-kindness? Mindfulness, 10, 2544–2554. (IF = 3.80). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & Iyer, A. (2018). “At least David Cameron resigned”: The protective effects of just-world beliefs for counterfactual thinking after Brexit. Personality and Individual Differences, 121, 25-30. (IF = 3.95). Link | Self-archived version
Sirois, F. M., & *Kitner, R. (2015). Less adaptive or more maladaptive? A meta-analytic investigation of procrastination and coping. European Journal of Personality, 29, 433-444 (IF = 7.00). Link | Self-archived version
Hirsch, J. K., Sirois, F. M., & Lyness, J. M. (2011). Functional impairment and depressive symptoms in older adults: Mitigating effects of hope. British Journal of Health Psychology, 16, 744–760. (IF = 8.10) Link | Self-archived version
Fuschia Sirois 