title: The role of neuroticism, pain catastrophizing and pain-related fear in vigilance to pain: a structural equations approach.
abstract: The present study aimed at clarifying the precise role of pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear and personality dimensions in vigilance to pain and pain severity by means of structural equation modelling. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 122 patients with chronic or recurrent low back pain. Results revealed that pain catastrophizing and pain-related fear mediated the relationship between neuroticism and vigilance to pain. Furthermore, vigilance to pain was found to be associated with heightened pain severity. Finally, we found that neuroticism moderated the relationship between pain severity and catastrophic thinking about pain. The results strongly support the idea that vigilance to pain is dependent upon catastrophic thinking and pain-related fear. Neuroticism is best conceived of as a vulnerability factor; it lowers the threshold at which pain is perceived as threatening, and at which catastrophic thoughts about pain emerge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Research Institute for Psychology and Health, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goubert
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombez
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Damme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires