Is pain sensitivity associated with occupational fears in police recruits?
Gross (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 7-13, 1992a) showed that the fear of pain (pain sensitivity) could be distinguished from dental fears and health concerns. Furthermore, the Pain Sensitivity Index (PSI) correlated significantly with pain expectations, and pain expectations correlated significantly with dental avoidance behaviour. However, Gross noted that the psychometric properties of the PSI had not been fully determined. The present study examined the factor structure of an expanded version of the PSI with a sample of 212 police recruits. A single factor accounted for 52.1% of the variance and the reliability coefficient (alpha = 0.89) indicates that the PSI possesses a high degree of internal reliability. Subsequently, it was hypothesized that pain sensitivity correlates positively with fears relating to police tasks which are characterized by pain expectancies, such as the fear of being assaulted during operational police work. In support of the hypothesis, pain sensitivity correlated highest with situations involving pain. The pain sensitivity construct may help to explain individual differences in fear reactions to situations where pain could be experienced, such as operational police duties or dental attendances.
Gross
P R
PR
National Police Research Unit, Marden, Australia.
D000328:Adult; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012926:Social Control, Formal