title: Anger differentially mediates the relationship between perceived injustice and chronic pain outcomes.
abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that perceived injustice is a risk factor for adverse outcomes associated with chronic pain. To date, however, the processes by which perceived injustice impacts on pain outcomes remain speculative. Evidence from several lines of research suggests that anger may mediate the relationship between injustice and pain outcomes. However, this relationship has not been empirically tested in patients with chronic pain. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether anger mediates the relationships between perceived injustice and pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and self-reported disability. One hundred and seventy-three individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain completed self-report measures of perceived injustice, anger, pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and disability. Consistent with previous research, high scores on a measure of perceived injustice were associated with greater pain, more severe depressive symptoms, and more pronounced disability. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that anger variables completely mediated the relationship between perceived injustice and pain intensity, and partially mediated the relationship between perceived injustice and depressive symptoms. Anger did not mediate the relationship between perceived injustice and self-reported disability. The Discussion addresses the theoretical and clinical implications of the findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Canada Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Zina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Trost
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Michael J L
authors.initials: MJL
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D058443:Catastrophization; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anger; Chronic pain; Depression; Disability; Perceived injustice