title: Catastrophizing Mediates the Relationship Between the Personal Belief in a Just World and Pain Outcomes Among Chronic Pain Support Group Attendees.
abstract: Health-related research suggests the belief in a just world can act as a personal resource that protects against the adverse effects of pain and illness. However, currently, little is known about how this belief, particularly in relation to one's own life, might influence pain. Consistent with the suggestions of previous research, the present study undertook a secondary data analysis to investigate pain catastrophizing as a mediator of the relationship between the personal just world belief and chronic pain outcomes in a sample of chronic pain support group attendees. Partially supporting the hypotheses, catastrophizing was negatively correlated with the personal just world belief and mediated the relationship between this belief and pain and disability, but not distress. Suggestions for future research and intervention development are made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Social Work and Allied Health Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, George Moore Building, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 OBA UK.
authors.forename: Joanna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McParland
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Social Work and Allied Health Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, George Moore Building, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 OBA UK.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knussen
keywords: Catastrophizing; Chronic pain; Disability; Distress; Personal belief in a just world