Surrogate terms and related concepts
A number of surrogate terms for fatigue have been used,
including ‘weariness’, ‘exhaustion’ and ‘lack of energy’
(Molassiotis 1999); ‘aversion to activity’ and ‘malaise’
(Sharpe & Wilks 2002); ‘tiredness that exceeds the norm’;
and cognitive terms, such as ‘worn out’ and ‘overstressed’
(Flechtner & Bottomley 2003). These terms and phrases do
not represent fatigue as a concept for study; this is better
accomplished by identifying the attributes linked with the
respective discipline.
Despite differences in focus among disciplines, all agree on
the inherently problematic nature of this type of fatigue. Its
inexplicable nature in relation to previous activity and
resistance to rest mean that it is unlike ordinary exertionrelated
tiredness. Causal links with physical disease and
psychological disorders are seen in literature from psychology
and medicine, but fatigue without an identifiable aetiology is
termed ‘idiopathic’ or ‘unexplained’. The nursing literature
left the inexplicable aetiology of fatigue as an inherent and
assumed attribute, rather than being linked to a cause. In
literature from sociology, the controversial nature of fatigue
was often discussed. In many cases, a direct aetiology for
fatigue was not offered but many contributing factors were
proposed.