title: Self-appraised problem solving and pain-relevant social support as predictors of the experience of chronic pain.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of self-appraised problem-solving competence and pain-relevant social support to the prediction of pain, depression, and disability. The 234 chronic pain patients referred for participation in a comprehensive pain management program were administered self-report measures of pain, depression, disability, pain-relevant social support, and problem solving. Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses revealed that lower self-appraised problem-solving competence was related to increased pain, depression, and disability. Pain-relevant social support was directly related to pain and disability but indirectly related to depression. High levels of pain-relevant social support were found to buffer the relation between poorer self-appraised problem-solving competence and depressive symptoms. The results support the assessment of problem-solving skills in chronic pain patients and the investigation and utility of interventions aimed at increasing adaptive pain-relevant social support.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven 06516, USA.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kerns
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Otis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011340:Problem Solving; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support