Chronic Pain and Meaning in Life: Challenge and Change

Dezutter, Jessie; Dewitte, Laura; Vanhooren, Siebrecht

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-49022-9_13

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“… 28 , 30 This finding is also in line with previous research performed by Dezutter and colleagues on the meaning of pain, and on the impact of pain in meaning in life. 63 As found by Dezutter and colleagues, chronic pain can threaten people’s subjective sense that life has a meaning and purpose, and their perceptions about what is meaningful, leading to an existential search for meaning in life and a review of one’s expectations and goals in life. 63 However, not always the outcomes or outputs of these meaning making processes was explored in-depth by the study participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 63 As found by Dezutter and colleagues, chronic pain can threaten people’s subjective sense that life has a meaning and purpose, and their perceptions about what is meaningful, leading to an existential search for meaning in life and a review of one’s expectations and goals in life. 63 However, not always the outcomes or outputs of these meaning making processes was explored in-depth by the study participants. Namely, there was a lack of explicit in-depth exploration of the comparison between the specific content of the former and newer appraised meaning of pain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 28 Most frequently, and also in line with the findings of previous research, the study participants referred to a revision of their expectations and goals in life, by pursuing goals that are achievable, yet also often in line with or at least related to their original global goals. 63 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Ferreira-Valente¹,

Fontes²,

Pais-Ribeiro³

et al. 2021

JPR

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Purpose Chronic pain is a multidimensional experience that is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. The Meaning Making Model is a recent cognitive behavioral model that has been developed to understand how psychosocial factors influence adjustment to stressful events, such as having a chronic illness. This qualitative study aims to understand the potential utility of this model for understanding the role of meaning making in adjustment to chronic pain. Materials and Methods Eighteen community-dwelling adults with chronic low back pain or chronic pain due to osteoarthritis participated in four focus groups. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their pain experience, pain-related beliefs, meaning of pain, and the perceived association between pain and their meaning in life and sense of purpose. Data were submitted to thematic analysis and the identified themes were considered in light of the Meaning Making Model. Results Three overarching themes emerged, each of which included two themes. The first overarching theme – “appraised meaning of pain” – included the themes “causal attributions” and “primary appraisals.” The second – “meaning making processes” – included the themes “assimilation” and “accommodation.” The third – “meanings made” – included the themes “pain as an opportunity” and “acceptance.” Conclusion The key themes that emerged as individuals with chronic pain discussed pain and its impact are consistent with those that would be hypothesized as important from the Meaning Making Model, providing preliminary support for the utility of this model in the context of chronic pain. People with chronic pain appear to appraise pain in terms of its cause, controllability, threat, loss, or challenge. When a discrepancy between the appraised meaning of pain and one’s global meaning emerged, participants engaged in meaning making processes (accommodation and assimilation), resulting in meanings made, such as a reappraised meaning of pain, perceptions of growth, and acceptance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Ferreira-Valente¹,

Fontes²,

Pais-Ribeiro³

et al. 2021

JPR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[ 40 ] Likewise, meaning in life enhances individual resilient responses[ 41 ] and is associated with improved health outcomes for patients with CP. [ 42 43 ] Therefore, designing programs to train and strengthen the creativity of patients to use problem-oriented strategies and meaning therapy to improve their resilience may be effective.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Explaining the Components of Resilience in Patients with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Haghshenas,

Shaygan,

Pasyar

et al. 2024

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research

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Background: Resilience is a psychological trait and a protective factor that plays a vital role in coping with Chronic Pain (CP). Despite its importance, research has yet to fully clarify the concept and components of resilience in patients with CP. Accordingly, the present study aims to explain the components of resilience in patients with CP. Materials and Methods: The current qualitative study used a conventional content analysis methodology. The research population included all patients with CP who were referred to clinics affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (south of Iran) from August 2021 to August 2022. Participants were selected using the purposive sampling method. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants to collect information. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA 2020 software in conjunction with data collection efforts. Results: Generally, in the current study, 30 sub-sub-categories, 11 sub-categories, and five main categories were extracted as components of resilience in patients with CP. The main categories of resilience against CP included the following: 1. emotional self-regulation, 2. psychological flexibility, 3. self-care, 4. appeal to religion–spirituality, and 5. internal resources and individual competencies. Conclusions: The present study highlights the different physical, mental, and religious-spiritual strategies that may contribute to resilience against pain. The resilience components identified in this study provide a foundation for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, to design and implement diverse pain management strategies that enhance adjustment to CP conditions.

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“…Specifically, the evidence suggests that some religiosity/spirituality dimensions may be associated with lower pain and better psychological function in adults with chronic pain (Ferreira-Valente et al, 2022). For example, religious service attendance, bible study, and spiritual well-being seem to be negatively correlated with depressive symptom severity and pain intensity, and the spirituality dimensions of transcendence, symbolic inclusion/exclusion, daily spiritual experiences, forgiveness, meaning in life, and sense of purpose are all positively associated with better psychological function (Almeida et al, 2020;Dezutter et al, 2015Dezutter et al, , 2016Ferreira-Valente et al, 2022). In addition, spiritual/religious practices appear to be effective in increasing pain tolerance (Dezutter et al, 2011;Lysne & Wachholtz, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Prayer-Based Interventions Effective Pain Management Options? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

et al. 2022

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This review examined the effects of private and communal participatory prayer on pain. Nine databases were searched. Six randomized controlled trials were included. For private prayer, medium to large effects emerged for 67% to 69% of betweengroup comparisons; participants in the prayer condition reported lower pain intensity (0.59 < d < 26.17; 4 studies) and higher pain tolerance (0.70 < d < 1.05; 1 study). Preto post-intervention comparisons yielded medium to large effects (0.76 < d < 1.67; 2 studies); pain intensity decreased. Although firm conclusions cannot be made because meta-analysis was based on only two studies, the analysis suggested prayer might reduce pain intensity (SMD = − 2.63, 95% CI [− 3.11, − 2.14], I = 0%). (PROSPERO: CRD42020221733).

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Chronic Pain and Meaning in Life: Challenge and Change

Cited by 6 publications

References 59 publications

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

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

Explaining the Components of Resilience in Patients with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Are Prayer-Based Interventions Effective Pain Management Options? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

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