Facing Pain Together: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Facebook Support Groups on Adults With Chronic Pain

Pester, Bethany; Tankha, Hallie; Caño, Annmarie; Tong, Stephanie Tom; Grekin, Emily R.; Bruinsma, Julian; Gootee, Jordan; Lumley, Mark A.

doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2022.07.013

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, research has found that both peer-led and professionally-guided Facebook groups for chronic pain effectively reduced pain, pain-related disability, and depression, while also increasing social support. 96 , 97 Notably, these studies provide evidence that support programs that do not involve components from psychological interventions are also effective at positively impacting pain and emotional distress. Interestingly, one study also examined the Facebook posts that participants made within these groups and found that individuals with chronic pain tended to refer to people with chronic pain as “us” and individuals without chronic pain as “them.” For example, participants discussed how they often isolate themselves from family and friends because they feel judged and misunderstood by “them.” 96 Receiving validation in these social media groups from others who also suffer from chronic pain may potentially reduce emotional distress, 98 resulting in improved pain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The Interconnection Between Social Support and Emotional Distress Among Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Narrative Review

Franqueiro,

Yoon,

Crago

et al. 2023

PRBM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chronic pain is a public health concern affecting over 100 million U.S. adults. Because chronic pain is multifactorial, it requires a biopsychosocial approach to understand how biological, psychological, and social factors contribute to both the development and maintenance of pain. On average, individuals with chronic pain report higher levels of emotional distress compared to pain-free individuals. Research has demonstrated that social support is associated with better pain outcomes and less emotional distress. It has been proposed that social support may improve pain outcomes by reducing the influence of stressors. However, the majority of research exploring the relationships between social support and pain-related outcomes has focused on the direct relationship between these variables, largely overlooking the process by which social support has a positive influence on pain. This narrative review synthesizes research on how chronic pain, emotional distress, and social support are highly interconnected, yet research investigating chronic pain and emotional distress within a social context is limited. We then highlight disparities in chronic pain, such that the burden of chronic pain is unequal between demographic groups. Next, we discuss existing evidence for the use of group-based interventions to address pain-related outcomes. Lastly, we summarize limitations of prior research studies and highlight gaps in the current literature. Overall, longitudinal research comprehensively investigating the distinct nuances in the measurement of social support and how these nuances relate to emotional distress and pain outcomes is needed and may provide insight into the unique needs of individuals or subgroups. Further, demographically diverse randomized controlled trials are needed to identify the process by which group-based interventions improve pain outcomes and whether these interventions are more effective for particular groups in order to personalize treatment approaches and address inequities in pain care.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The Interconnection Between Social Support and Emotional Distress Among Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Narrative Review

Franqueiro,

Yoon,

Crago

et al. 2023

PRBM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The guide included three domains of support: the healthcare sector, social networks and how support from social networks could be integrated into care. The three domains were chosen based on their previously described importance 3 12–16 19–22. The interview guide contained open-ended questions with suggestions for additional probing questions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, lacking support can lead to feelings of loneliness and not being needed 15. Peer support interventions have been shown to decrease pain severity and interference 16. However, there is conflicting evidence of the positive effects of support.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Balancing between being the most valuable player (MVP) and passing the ball: a qualitative study of support when living with chronic pain in Sweden

Lilja,

Wallström,

Saarijärvi

et al. 2024

BMJ Open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the meaning of lived experiences of support from social networks and the healthcare sector in persons with chronic pain.DesignA qualitative, phenomenological hermeneutic method was used to analyse interview data.SettingParticipants were recruited from patient organisations in Sweden.ParticipantsTen (seven women, two men and one non-binary) individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain were included.FindingsThe meaning of lived experiences of support in persons with chronic pain involves balancing between being the most valuable player (MVP) and passing the ball, meaning balancing between being a capable person and accepting support to be that capable person.ConclusionFor participants who lived with chronic pain, support means balancing between being capable (the MVP) and willing to accept support (passing the ball), which aligns with the concept of person-centred care. Our findings may be useful for policy-makers, managers and clinical professionals when planning and performing care for persons with chronic pain. Future research should focus on how the healthcare sector can create support to enable persons with chronic pain to be the MVP while being able to pass the ball to their social networks and the healthcare sector.

show abstract

“…Adults with chronic pain participated in these groups for 1 month. We have already reported on changes in pain-related outcomes (i.e., pain severity, pain interference, depression, and anxiety) from baseline to post-intervention and 1-month follow-up; there were substantial improvements in outcomes for both types of Facebook groups, but minimal differences between the two groups (Pester et al, 2022). In the current analyses, we used a mixedmethods intervention design to evaluate social support outcomes and the social dynamics within the intervention.…”

Section: The Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

A mixed-methods investigation into the us versus them mentality in Facebook groups for chronic pain.

Tankha¹,

Pester²,

Brumley³

et al. 2023

Health Psychology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Social media groups for chronic pain have become increasingly popular, but the effects of these groups are largely unknown, and members may be exposed to both helpful and harmful group processes. We created a Facebook intervention for adults with chronic pain and used a mixed-methods design to evaluate the effects of group membership on social support, including examining social dynamics that may benefit or impede existing pain care. Method: A total of 119 adults participated in either peer-led or professionally-guided Facebook groups for 1 month. Chronic pain support was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up, and qualitative data were collected to explore social dynamics. Results: Chronic pain support increased for participants in both group types from baseline to post-intervention and then decreased at follow-up. Thematic analysis of qualitative data (i.e., participant posts and comments in response to posts) revealed an overarching theme: us versus them—a dichotomizing view of the world that distinguishes people with pain (us) versus everyone else who does not understand pain (them). Participants discussed their tendency to withdraw socially due to feeling misunderstood regarding their pain. Conclusions: Facebook groups for chronic pain enhance perceptions of support among peers. Although generally beneficial, group cohesion may facilitate an us versus them mentality, resulting in isolation and potentially poorer outcomes. Future research should explore ways to maintain benefits of the us versus them mentality, while reducing its costs.

show abstract

Facing Pain Together: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Facebook Support Groups on Adults With Chronic Pain

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

The Interconnection Between Social Support and Emotional Distress Among Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Narrative Review

The Interconnection Between Social Support and Emotional Distress Among Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Narrative Review

Balancing between being the most valuable player (MVP) and passing the ball: a qualitative study of support when living with chronic pain in Sweden

A mixed-methods investigation into the us versus them mentality in Facebook groups for chronic pain.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About