Men, Chronic Pain, and Prescription Pain Medication Use: The Role of Gender Role Beliefs in a Longitudinal Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Objective Although past research has established that men with chronic pain are more likely to misuse prescription pain medications in a myriad of ways compared with women, little is known about men’s medication use in the context of their gender role beliefs. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of men’s domestic gender role beliefs on their use of prescription pain medication for chronic pain. Methods Using a nationally representative data set with 304 men with chronic pain, this study examined a longitudinal moderated mediation model in which pain interference mediates the longitudinal relationship between somatic amplification and prescription pain medication use, with domestic gender role beliefs as a moderator of the aforementioned mediated relationship. Results Results indicated a significant moderated mediation model in which pain interference fully mediated the relationship between somatic amplification and prescription pain medication use, with men’s domestic gender role beliefs moderating this mediated relationship. Specifically, domestic gender role beliefs moderated the relationship between pain interference and prescription pain medication use. Men with higher levels of traditional domestic gender role beliefs strengthened the mediated relationship, contributing to increased prescription pain medication use. Conclusions These findings suggest that although men’s perceptions of somatic stimuli through its perceived interference contribute to their medication use, the extent to which they consume prescription pain medication depends on their beliefs in domestic gender roles during chronic pain.

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“…Regarding validity, scale scores were positively associated with pain severity, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression (Ryan & McGuire, 2016). In a MIDUS sample with chronic pain, items yielded a Cronbach's α of .91 (Daheim et al, 2019). Scale items designated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .91) in the present study.…”

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“…Importantly, these beliefs have been shown to impact on how pain is expressed and responded to, [156][157][158] including with pain medication use. 48 Gender beliefs also affect how men and women view the pain of others, and how observers respond to those in pain. 3,69,75,150,158,164 For example, Hirsh et al 73 found that when viewing virtual patients, observers rated women as having more pain and worse at coping.…”

Do Expected Behaviors From Gender Affect Reactions to Chronic Pain?

“…yaptıkları araştırmada erkeklerin kadınlara göre ağrıyla ilgili daha az kelime, daha az açıklayıcı bir dil kullandıklarını saptamışlardır [23]. Erkekler arasındaki grup içi farklılıkları inceleyen bazı araştırmalarda da yüksek düzeyde geleneksel maskulen kimliklere sahip erkeklerin ağrıları için yardım arama ve ağrıyla ilgili belirtileri açıklama olasılıklarının daha düşük olduğu gösterilmektedir [6]. Bir kadının varlığının erkeklerin ağrıya dayanmasını güçlendirdiği de bir diğer tespittir [22].…”

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