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Emerging research supports the role of chronic stress in chronic disease development. The objective was to perform a scoping review mapping the field of research exploring relationships between chronic stress and the development of arthritis in adult populations.

Five electronic databases were systematically searched without publication limits based on 3 key concepts: stress, arthritis, and adults. Eligible qualitative studies investigated individuals' perceived causes of arthritis; quantitative studies investigated relationships between exposure to a chronic stressor and an arthritis presence outcome. Articles were screened by 2 independent reviewers, and data were narratively synthesized.

Of 1,819 unique records, 54 studies met inclusion criteria. Nine studies used qualitative methods, and 45 used quantitative methods. The frequency of studies increased chronologically, with half (n …