Analyzing chronic low back pain: the relative contribution of pain coping strategies.

Sixty-two chronic low back pain patients were administered the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) to assess the frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of a variety of cognitive and behavioral pain coping strategies. Analysis of individual variables revealed that CSQ factors, gender, physical examination findings, and chronicity of pain had significant effects on one or more of a series of pain, psychological distress or behavioral measures. To assess the relative contribution of each of these variables hierarchical stepwise regression analyses were carried out.

Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups.

A hierarchical cluster analysis procedure was used to identify homogeneous subgroups of low back pain patients who show similar pain behavior patterns during a videotaped behavior sample. Subjects, 106 chronic low back pain patients, were divided into 2 samples. The cluster analysis procedure identified 4 very similar subgroups in sample 1 and sample 2.

Task performance and perceptions of anxiety: averaging and summation in an evaluative setting.

Suggests that individuals' "stage fright," or perceptions of anxiety and performance, is a function of tendencies to both average and summate the impact of audience members. We found that under certain conditions adding an evaluative member to an audience decreased anxiety, whereas in other conditions the addition of evaluative members increased anxiety. These results are not expected from social impact theory or social facilitation research and suggest that individuals do not react to groups of individuals in a manner analogous to the way in which trait information is typically averaged in forming impressions of individuals (Anderson, 1981).

The relationship of locus of control to pain coping strategies and psychological distress in chronic pain patients.

Although behavioral scientists have long been interested in how an individual's locus of control relates to coping and adjustment, basic information remains to be gathered on the relevance of locus of control to adaptation to persistent pain. This study examined the relationship of locus of control orientation to pain coping strategies and psychological distress in chronic pain patients. Subjects were 62 chronic pain patients.

Social support and pain behavior.

Research has shown that social support is generally associated with better adaptation to chronic disease. However, the role that social support plays in adjustment to chronic pain syndromes has received less research attention. The present study was designed to examine the relation of high versus low levels of social support to pain behavior in chronic pain patients.