The Meaning Making Model Applied to Community-Dwelling Adults with Chronic Pain

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pain Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Chronic pain is a complex, multidimensional experience.
• The Meaning Making Model (MMM) explains adjustment to stressful events, including chronic illness.
• Understanding psychosocial factors is crucial for chronic pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utility of the Meaning Making Model (MMM) for understanding adjustment to chronic pain.
• To investigate how meaning-making processes influence the experience of chronic pain.
• To examine the role of psychosocial factors in chronic pain adjustment.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 18 adults with chronic pain (low back pain or osteoarthritis).
• Four focus groups were conducted using open-ended questions.
• Thematic analysis was applied to explore pain experience, beliefs, and meaning.

Main Results:

• Three overarching themes emerged: appraised meaning of pain, meaning-making processes, and meanings made.
• Sub-themes included causal attributions, primary appraisals, assimilation, accommodation, pain as opportunity, and acceptance.
• Participants appraised pain based on cause, controllability, threat, loss, or challenge.

Conclusions:

• Emergent themes align with the Meaning Making Model (MMM), supporting its utility in chronic pain.
• Individuals engage in meaning-making processes (assimilation, accommodation) when pain conflicts with global meaning.
• Meaning-making leads to reappraised pain meaning, growth perceptions, and acceptance.