An exploration of adjustment to pain: interactions with attribution and individual difference variables

Abstract

This study explored the nature of and the interactions between self-defined adjustment to pain, attributions, and individual difference variables. Sixty-two pain sufferers were interviewed using a semi-structured measure to allow them to define psychological, physical and social adjustment. Changes in psychological adjustment were also examined, using retrospective and current reports. Responsibility and blame were measured to determine the adaptive nature of attributions to the self and others, using these outcomes. The main results indicated the following. Individual differences in adjustment emerged. Various physical and social limitations of pain were reported, and they were frequently reported by participants aged 60 years and over. Additionally, adjustment outcomes not measured by more structured adjustment measures emerged, including positive statements. These were frequently reported by arthritis sufferers, and people with pain for over nine years’ duration. Descriptive analyses suggested that positive statements along with negative emotions changed for different times in the pain experience, in terms of their nature and frequency. Other-responsibility attributions were positively associated with negative psychological adjustment (p<0.05). Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.