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Age differences in cognitive-affective processes in adults with chronic pain
Caitlin B Murray1, Kushang V Patel2,3, Hanah Twiddy4
1Center for Child Health, Behavior & Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
European Journal of Pain (London, England)
|January 6, 2021
Summary
Age impacts how people cope with chronic pain. Older adults show better pain acceptance and self-efficacy, with psychological factors affecting disability and depression less intensely than in younger adults.
Area of Science:
- Pain research
- Gerontology
- Psychology
Background:
- Chronic pain causes significant physical and psychological impairments.
- Individual differences in pain-related functioning are not well understood.
- Age is a key factor influencing pain perception and coping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in cognitive-affective processes in chronic pain patients.
- To examine how age moderates the relationship between psychological factors and pain outcomes.
- To identify age-specific psychological mechanisms influencing disability and depression in chronic pain.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 2,905 treatment-seeking adults with chronic pain.
- Data collected from a tertiary pain center in the United Kingdom.
- Assessment of age differences in pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and self-efficacy.
Main Results:
- Older adults (65-75) reported higher pain acceptance and self-efficacy than younger groups.
- Older adults exhibited lower pain catastrophizing compared to middle-aged adults.
- The influence of pain self-efficacy and acceptance on depression, and self-efficacy on disability, was weakest in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Age-related psychological differences in chronic pain management present unique challenges and opportunities.
- Further research is needed to understand age-specific biopsychosocial dimensions of chronic pain.
- Developing age-tailored interventions is crucial for improving pain management across the lifespan.
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