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Background: Psychological distress is a well-known complication in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but knowledge regarding emotions, and their relationship to participation restrictions, is scarce.

Objectives: To explore emotions related to participation restrictions by patients with early RA. 

Method: In this study, 48 patients with early RA, aged 20-63 years, were interviewed about participation restrictions using Critical Incident Technique. Information from transcribed interviews was converted into dilemmas and linked to ICF participation codes. The emotions described were condensed and categorized.

Results: Hopelessness and sadness were described when trying to perform daily activities such as getting up in the mornings, getting dressed, or not being able to perform duties at work. Sadness was experienced in relation to not being able to continue leisure activities or care for children. Examples of fear descriptions were found in relation to deteriorating health and fumble fear, which made the individual withdraw from activities as a result of mistrusting the body. Anger and irritation were described in relation to domestic and employed work, but also in social relations where the individual felt unable to continue valued activities. Shame or embarrassment was described when participation restrictions became visible in public.

Conclusions: Feelings of grief, aggressiveness, fear and shame are emotions closely related to participation restrictions in everyday life in early RA. Emotions related to disability need to be addressed both in clinical settings in order to optimize rehabilitative multi-professional interventions and in research to achieve further knowledge.