Active or Passive Pain Coping: Which Predicts Daily Physical and Psychosocial Functioning in People With Chronic Pain and Spinal Cord Injury?

Rehabil Psychol, 2022 · DOI: 10.1037/rep0000457 · Published: August 1, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and chronic pain cope with their pain on a daily basis, focusing on active and passive coping strategies. Active coping involves managing pain through psychological or behavioral strategies, while passive coping involves withdrawal, avoidance, or reliance on others. The research examines the connection between these coping strategies and daily physical and emotional well-being, including independence, mood, social engagement, and depressive symptoms.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

124 individuals with SCI

Evidence Level

Observational study

Key Findings

1
Increased daily passive coping related to increased same-day depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing.
2
Increased daily passive coping also related to decreased same-day positive affect and well-being.
3
Increased daily active coping was related to higher same-day pain catastrophizing, an unexpected finding.

Research Summary

The study examined the same-day associations of active and passive pain coping with physical and psychosocial outcomes in individuals with SCI and chronic pain. Increased daily passive coping was associated with increased depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing, and decreased positive affect and well-being. Contrary to expectations, increased daily active coping was related to increased same-day pain catastrophizing.

Practical Implications

Clinical intervention

Clinicians should evaluate and address passive coping strategies in psychologically based interventions for pain in SCI.

Treatment Modalities

Insights into pain-related coping strategies can influence existing treatment modalities and provide additional information for tailored treatment.

Further Research

Future studies should examine pain coping and pain acceptance together to get a clearer picture of the dynamics of how people with chronic pain and SCI cope with their pain on a daily basis.

Study Limitations

1
The sample comprised mostly highly educated white males, which may limit generalizability.
2
The cross-sectional nature of the data prevents drawing causal relationships.
3
The study did not collect data on people who declined to participate, so we cannot speak to the representativeness of our sample relative to the broader clinical population.

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