Pain Catastrophizing, Beliefs and Perception, and Their Association With Profiling Characteristics in Athletes

Variables associated with pain catastrophizing and beliefs in athletes presenting with musculoskeletal pain and/or sports-related injuries are largely unexplored.

We aimed to evaluate which anthropometric, sociodemographic, sporting, injury history, and care-seeking characteristics were associated with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBAPI) scores in athletes.

This study followed a cross-sectional design.

Three hundred and twelve athletes (40% females) from different sports and levels completed a questionnaire including demographic information, details regarding sports practice, injury history, health care use, PCS, and PBAPI. Univariable associations between PCS and PBAPI scores and each variable were assessed using linear regression. Variables with univariable associations where P < .05 were entered into multivariable regression models.

The final multivariable model including gender, recurrent and persistent pain, a history of a severe atraumatic injury, and a history of more than 5 atraumatic injuries explained 14.9% of the variance in PBAPI scores. Performing a team sport and a history of more than 5 atraumatic injuries explained 5.1% of the variance in PCS scores.

Gender, sporting, and injury history characteristics explained only a small portion of the variance in PCS and PBAPI scores, whereas having received healthcare support and the number of appointments did not. Most of the variance was left unexplained.