(PS6-C56) Association Between Pain Self-efficacy and Duration of Chronic Pain Experience

Self-efficacy has been identified as a key transdiagnostic construct for well-being and positive mental health outcomes (Tahmassian et al., 2011; Zhou et al., 2021). In the context of chronic pain, pain-self efficacy (PSE), a multifaceted construct, has been defined as one’s belief in their ability to tolerate and control pain, as well as their confidence in performing tasks in the presence of pain (Nicholas, 2007). PSE has been associated with resilience in pain-related coping (Edwards et al., 2016) and lower levels of pain catastrophizing (Edwards et al., 2016), and is often a treatment target in behavioral interventions for chronic pain (Åkerblom et al., 2021). PSE may also be a key protective factor against negative impacts of chronic pain, as it has demonstrated associations with higher levels of well-being and quality of life among individuals living with chronic pain. However, associations among PSE and other features of an individual’s pain history have been less frequently examined. Given the importance of this construct, it is vital to understand key predictors of PSE in order to better support treatments for developing enhanced PSE and improved quality of life. Therefore, the present study examined associations between PSE and pain duration, age, and pain severity.  

59 adults being treated for chronic pain at an academic medical center in New England were recruited to participate in this study. They completed a one-time questionnaire assessing pain severity (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI]), pain duration (measured by self-report of the year of pain onset), and PSE (Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire [PSEQ]). Correlation analyses were utilized to explore associations between PSE, pain severity, pain duration, and age. 

Significant associations were found between PSE, pain duration (M=12 years, SD=10), and pain severity, such that lower levels of pain self-efficacy were associated with longer durations of pain (r (57) = .27, p =.019) and higher levels of pain severity (r (57) = .743, p < .001). There was not a significant association found between participant age (M= 52, SD=17) and PSE, duration, or severity.  

These results highlight that populations who have experienced chronic pain for longer may be particularly vulnerable to lower levels of confidence in their ability to tolerate and cope with their pain. It is also possible that individual’s conceptualizations of their pain and its impact, as directly assessed by the PSEQ, are impacted by duration of the pain experience. Findings suggest that these individuals may have a higher need for behavioral intervention or psychosocial support which target fostering increased PSE. Future research further examining patient engagement and buy-in to behavioral treatment for chronic pain is vital, particularly among populations who have been living with chronic pain for longer.