Dispositional versus episode-specific assessment of children's coping with pain.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relation between dispositional and episode-specific pain coping measures, the variability of episode-specific pain coping over time, and the utility of dispositional versus episode-specific measures of pain coping in predicting outcomes in pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain (CAP).


METHODS
Participants (N = 116) completed a clinic interview, a week of daily diary interviews, and 3-month follow-up questionnaires. Daily coping reports were averaged and compared to dispositional coping reports. Coping reports were used to predict depressive symptoms, somatic symptoms, and functional disability at follow-up.


RESULTS
Dispositional pain coping measures significantly correlated with averaged episode-specific measures. Passive coping predicted higher levels of all outcome variables. The averaged episode-specific passive coping measure was a stronger predictor than a dispositional measure. Measures of active and accommodative coping were not significant predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of coping with specific pain episodes may enhance understanding of pain coping.
Shirkey
Kezia C
KC
Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University.
Smith
Craig A
CA
Walker
Lynn S
LS
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010551:Personality; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires