THE EFFECT OF TIME OF DAY AND GENDER ON PAIN PERCEPTION AND SELECTED PSYCHOBIOLOGICAL RESPONSES

Abstract

30 The literature regarding whether or not there are gender and diurnal differences in pain perception is equivocal. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of gender and time of day on pain threshold (PT) and pain ratings (PR). A secondary purpose was to measure selected psychological(STAI, POMS) and physiological (SBP, DBP, HR, TEMP) responses. Pressure (3000 gm force) was applied to the middle digit of the left forefinger for 2-min with the Forgions-Barber pain stimulator. Twenty-nine volunteers (women-14; men=15) completed 2 randomly assigned sessions between 6:00-8:00 in the AM and PM. STAI, POMS and TEMP were assessed before the stimulus, while BP and HR were assessed before and following the pressure stimulus. Data were analyzed with a 2 x 2 ANOVA. Results indicated that men had significantly higher(p<0.05) pain thresholds than women, however there was not a significant time of day effect (p>0.05). PR and HR were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in women in comparison to men. Significant time of day effects (p<0.05) were found for TEMP, SBP and vigor. It is concluded that PT did not differ in the AM and PM, and that men had higher PT than women.