The Impact of Pain Coping Strategies on Chronic Pain Among Native Americans

BACKGROUND: Compared to other U.S. racial/ethnic groups, Native Americans (NAs) have a greater likelihood of developing chronic pain. Considering this inequity, it is important to understand which coping strategies are associated with pain intensity and interference for NAs. PURPOSE: The present study explored whether three coping strategies were associated with pain intensity and interference, and whether they moderated the impact of pain intensity on pain interference. METHODS: NAs with chronic pain (N = 103) completed surveys that assessed past week average pain intensity (11-point numerical rating scale), past week pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory, extended version), and task persistence, resting, and coping self-statements (Chronic Pain Coping Inventory). Regression analyses were used to predict pain intensity and interference from coping strategies, after controlling for age, sex, education, and income. RESULTS: Greater use of coping self-statements (p=.013) and lower income (p=.023) were associated with higher pain intensity. Higher pain intensity (p<.001), greater use of coping-self statements (p=.031), and lower task persistence (p=.003) were associated with more pain interference. No strategy moderated the relationship between pain intensity and pain interference (ps > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest task persistence may help mitigate the impact of NA chronic pain, regardless of experienced pain intensity. By contrast, coping self-statements were not associated with chronic pain consequences.