title: Acceptance of the unpleasant reality of chronic pain: effects upon attention to pain and engagement with daily activities.
abstract: This paper investigates whether acceptance was related to less attention to pain, and to more engagement with daily activities. The results of two studies are reported. In a first cross-sectional study, 501 chronic pain patients completed self-report instruments on pain severity, attention to pain and acceptance. In a second diary study, 62 patients with chronic pain reported pain intensity, attention to pain and characteristics of goal-directed behaviour 8 times a day using an experience sampling method. Acceptance was measured using a self-report instrument. It was found that acceptance was related to less attention to pain (study 1 and study 2), more engagement with daily activities, a higher motivation to complete activities and a better efficacy to perform daily activities (study 2). Results are discussed in terms of how a positive life despite pain may be preserved by a flexible adjustment of personal goals to current limitations and adversities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Research Institute for Psychology and Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK Pain Management Unit, University of Bath, Bath, UK Department of Anesthesia, Pain Clinic, University Hospital of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Viane
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombez
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eccleston
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Devulder
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Corte
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011936:Reality Testing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires