Optimism and Psychological Resilience are Beneficially Associated With Measures of Clinical and Experimental Pain in Adults With or at Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

This study suggests that an optimistic outlook may beneficially impact clinical pain severity by altering endogenous pain modulatory capacity. Furthermore, individuals with low optimism (ie, pessimists) may be more adept at engaging resources that promote psychological resilience, which in turn, enhances endogenous pain modulatory capacity. Therefore, this study supports consideration of psychological resilience factors when evaluating experimental and clinical pain outcomes.