The relationship between strategies of coping and perception of pain in three chronic pain groups

Abstract

Examined the relationship between perception of pain, personality, coping and the reactions of family members in three chronic pain groups (sickle cell anemia, arthritis, and low back pain). Sixty black Ss equally distributed in the three medically diagnosed pain groups completed the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Maudsley Personality Inventory, a self-control measure, and the modified spouse response questionnaire. Nonsignificant association was detected between measures of pain and neuroticism; a significant inverse relationship was found between self-controlling behaviors and the affective dimension of pain; the relationship between perceived solicitous behavior and intensity and quality of pain differentiated the sickle cell and arthritic groups from the low back pain group; for the low back pain group, intensity of pain was related significantly to solicitous behaviors of family members, but the reverse was true for the arthritic and sickle cell groups.