Coping with neck and low back pain in the general population

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pain Management
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Neck and low back pain are prevalent conditions impacting quality of life.
• Effective pain management strategies are crucial for patient well-being.
• The Pain Management Inventory (PMI) is a tool to assess coping strategies, but its psychometric properties require validation in general populations with specific pain types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Pain Management Inventory (PMI) in adults experiencing neck or low back pain.
• To examine the correlation between pain severity and the adoption of active versus passive coping mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• A mailed survey was administered to a random sample of adults in Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Psychometric analysis was used to validate the PMI's structure and internal consistency.
• Regression analyses identified factors associated with active and passive pain coping strategies.

Main Results:

• The study confirmed a two-factor structure for the PMI, supporting its validity.
• Internal consistency was demonstrated for the coping subscales of the PMI.
• Passive coping strategies were associated with marital status, increased pain severity, depression, and poorer health.
• Active coping strategies were linked to female gender, higher education, reduced depression, good health, and regular exercise.

Conclusions:

• The PMI is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing pain coping strategies in individuals with neck or low back pain.
• Understanding factors associated with active and passive coping can inform targeted interventions for pain management.
• The findings highlight the interplay between psychosocial factors and pain coping behaviors.