Abstract
ObjectiveThe novel coronavirus (2019; CV-19) is linked to increases in emotional distress and may be particularly problematic for those with pre-existing mental and physical conditions, such as chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little empirical research has been published on resilience factors in these individuals. The present study aims to examine authenticity as a resilience factor among those with chronic pain and/or PTSD.MethodsPrior to the national response to the pandemic (January 10-24, 2020), participants were screened for pain-related disability (Oswestry Disability Index; ODI) and PTSD symptoms (Posttraumatic Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), and on the basis of those responses were categorized into one of four groups: healthy, chronic pain only, PTSD only, or comorbid chronic pain and PTSD. During the CV-19 pandemic (May 5-May 13, 2020), participants responded again to the ODI and PCL-5, in addition to the Wood Authenticity Scale, Brief Pain Inventory, and items related to the CV-19 pandemic.ResultsA total of 110 participants (54.55% women), aged 42.19 (SD = 13.16), completed the survey during the pandemic. The comorbid group endorsed higher levels of CV-19 Threat and Impact compared to all other groups. Authenticity moderated this relationship relevant to CV-19 Threat among those in the chronic pain only group, and not in any other group.ConclusionThe comorbid group endorsed higher levels of CV-19 Threat and Impact compared to all other groups. Importantly, greater authenticity was associated with less CV-19 Threat in the chronic pain only group, and not in any other group. The present study also highlights the importance of engaging authentically for those with chronic pain during the pandemic.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus (2019; CV-19) has claimed the lives of over 550,000 individuals in the United States (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020)
Our findings show how authenticity may have protected individuals in the chronic pain only group from CV-19 Threat compared to those in the healthy group
The present study examined authenticity as a resilience factor during the CV-19 pandemic
Summary
The novel coronavirus (2019; CV-19) has claimed the lives of over 550,000 individuals in the United States (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). Individuals with physical or psychological pre-existing conditions, such as chronic pain (defined as experiencing pain for at least 3 months) and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may be significantly impacted by the pandemic (Merskey and Bogduk, 1994; Treede et al, 2015; Pfefferbaum and North, 2020). There is a paucity of research on understanding how resilience factors may help patients with chronic pain and PTSD navigate through the effects of the pandemic. Resilience is adapting to novel stressors in a way that prevents long-term mental health issues (Kalisch et al, 2017). It is a learned set of behaviors, not an innate factor that cannot be changed (Kalisch et al, 2017). The present work aims to fill this gap by assessing authenticity as a resilience factor among those with chronic pain only, PTSD only, and comorbid chronic pain and PTSD
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