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Perfectionism, self-compassion, and general self-efficacy between those with and without chronic pain
Graeme J Ditchburn1, Melinda Nicola1, Helen Correia2
1College of Science, Health, Engineering, and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
Psychology & Health
|August 31, 2025
Summary
Chronic pain is linked to higher socially prescribed perfectionism and lower self-compassion. Understanding these connections can improve pain management and well-being for chronic pain patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- The link between stress and pain is established, but the specific relationship between chronic pain and stress from perfectionist expectations is less understood.
- Perfectionism, characterized by high standards and self-criticism, may exacerbate chronic pain experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between chronic pain and psychological factors including perfectionism, self-compassion, and self-efficacy.
- To compare levels of socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP), self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), self-compassion (SC), and self-efficacy (SE) in individuals with and without chronic pain.
Main Methods:
- Two cross-sectional online surveys were conducted with a total of 514 participants with chronic pain and 515 pain-free individuals.
- Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing SPP, SOP, SC, and SE.
Main Results:
- Individuals with chronic pain exhibited significantly higher SPP and lower SC compared to pain-free individuals in Study 1.
- In Study 2, chronic pain patients reported higher overall perfectionism, lower SC, and lower SE. SPP and SOP were elevated in individuals with low SC.
- Correlation analyses revealed SOP and SC positively correlated with SE, while SPP showed a negative association with SE.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a significant relationship between chronic pain and specific dimensions of perfectionism, particularly SPP, and lower levels of protective factors like SC and SE.
- These results support the perfectionism social disconnection model and highlight the importance of self-compassion and self-efficacy in chronic pain management.
- Understanding these inter-relationships can inform the development of targeted interventions for improving long-term well-being in chronic pain populations.
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