An investigation into whether the observed relationship between Attachment type, Pain Catastrophizing and Self-Esteem predicts pain experience in a general population

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine the predictive relationship between pain catastrophizing, attachment type and self - esteem with pain experience in a general population. Furthermore predictors of individual constructs of pain experiences were examined. The research was carried out using quantitative methodology. Participants completed an online survey of the Glasgow Pain Questionnaire (GPQ), a measurement of pain experience, the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire- Revised (ECR-R) to measure attachment types, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) to measure levels of catastrophizing, and the Sorensen Self- Esteem Questionnaire to measure self- esteem levels. Analysis showed both pain catastrophizing and levels of low self-esteem displayed associations with pain experience, whereas attachment showed no association. Further analysis revealed helplessness emerged as the only unique predictor out of the PCS with pain experience. Helplessness showed the strongest association with ability to cope when in pain, accounting for a variance of 8.5%. The results contribute to a considerable gap within the literature concerning psychosocial factors relationships with acute pain experiences.