title: Association between optimism and self-reported facial pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the association between optimism and self-reported facial pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained for 5,696 subjects born in 1966 in Northern Finland and included in the study of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort. Data on facial pain were collected using a questionnaire. Optimism was measured using the revised version of the Life Orientation Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed that optimism was inversely associated with facial pain. Associations were found only among non-depressive subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that optimism is an independent psychosocial determinant of pain experience that should be taken into account in assessing the prognosis of facial pain and its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. kirsi.sipila@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sipilä
authors.forename: Pekka V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Ylöstalo
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ek
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zitting
authors.forename: Matti L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Knuuttila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001290:Attitude; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000523:psychology; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome