title: Social influence and pain response in women and men.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of social influence on responses to acute pain in women and men in a randomized experimental design. Sixty-eight undergraduates (32 women; 36 men) were randomly assigned to perform a cold pressor task either alone or in the presence of a same-sex friend. Expressions of pain were assessed with the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Overall social support was measured using the Krause social support assessment scale. The presence of a same-sex friend significantly increased pain reports in women, but not in men. Persons who reported high levels of social support on the Krause scale also reported greater cold pressor pain. Results suggest that the presence of a friend can increase pain report to an acute laboratory pain stimulus in women. These findings are consistent with models of social reinforcement in chronic pain syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Clemson University, 165 Sirrine Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: McClelland
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCubbin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support