The Association Between Partner Reactions to Chronic Pain and Pain-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review

It has long been recognised that the social context, including partner relationships, can impact the chronic pain experience and pain outcomes. The goal of this systematic review is to analyse, appraise and integrate the current evidence regarding the relationships between partner reactions to chronic pain behaviours and pain-related outcomes.

A search was conducted using relevant terms across five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE). To be included, studies had to: (1) be written in English; (2) report on adults (> 18 years) experiencing persistent pain (pain for over 3 months) who are in a relationship; (3) include a measure of partner response or perceived partner response; (4) include a measure of pain-related outcome (i.e., disability, pain severity, quality-of-life, functioning); and (5) report on the relationship between partner response and pain-related outcomes.

Sixty-three studies were included in the final review. Findings revealed that solicitous and punishing partner responses were associated with deleterious pain-related outcomes. Only seven studies, which focused on either emphatic responses or partner autonomy support, found associations between partner responses and positive pain-related outcomes.

Findings highlight the potential importance of partner responses for pain-related outcomes and suggest the value of improving partner understanding of pain and their capacity to respond constructively within their relationship context.

This was the first systematic review to investigate associations between partner reactions and pain-related outcomes for people living with persistent pain. Based on the results of this review, new clinical interventions that consider the relational context and involve partners as active participants are needed in the chronic pain field. Interventions that assist partners to respond with empathy while encouraging autonomy may have promising results and warrant further investigation.