The Role of Spirituality in Pain, Function, and Coping in Individuals with Chronic Pain

Abstract

Objective Chronic pain is a multidimensional experience associated with psychosocial (e.g., pain-related beliefs and pain coping responses) and spiritual factors. Spirituality is a universal aspect of the human experience that has been hypothesized to impact pain experience via its effects on pain, physical/psychological function, resilience and pain-related beliefs, and pain coping responses. However, research evaluating the associations between measures of spirituality and measures of pain and function in individuals with chronic pain is limited. This study seeks to address this limitation. Methods Participants were 62 Portuguese adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants completed measures of spirituality, pain intensity, physical and psychological function, and pain coping responses. Results Spirituality as hope and a positive perspective toward life was positively and moderately associated with better psychological function and coping responses of ignoring pain sensations and coping self-statements. Spirituality as a search for meaning and sense of purpose was positively and moderately associated with the coping response of task persistence. Conclusions These findings suggest the possibility that spirituality may be a useful resource for facilitating psychological adjustment, potentially promoting the use of some adaptive pain coping responses.

Understanding the Needs and Priorities of People Living with Persistent Pain and Long-Term Musculoskeletal Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Public Involvement Project

“…There are clear sociodemographic influences on pain, with examples of military veterans who are considered to have a higher pain tolerance compared to the general population [ 94 ]. There also appears to be some influence of spiritual or religious beliefs having positive outcomes for pain [ 95 , 96 ]. Studies show that women have a higher prevalence of pain [ 59 , 97 ].…”

Handbook of Positive Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality

“…European studies, hope has been studied as a coping strategy (Wirth & Büssing, 2016;Wnuk, 2015; and linked to coping efficacy (Ferreira-Valente et al, 2020), perceived posttraumatic growth (Kroo & Nagy, 2011), life satisfaction (Oliver et al, 2017), meaning in life (Wnuk & Marcinkowski, 2014), lower anxiety , and lower suicide risk (Stefa-Missagli et al, 2020). Similarly, in non-U.S. North America and in South America, hope has been studied as a coping and social behavior (Aquino & Zago, 2007;Gall et al, 2009;Gall & Bilodeau, 2017) and associated with positive youth development (e.g., confidence and connectedness; Tirrell et al, 2019), benevolent God representations (Gall et al, 2007), self-efficacy at work (Duggleby et al, 2009), forgiveness and well-being , and happiness and faith (Holt & Reeves, 2001).…”

COPAHS Study: protocol of a randomised experimental study comparing the effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and spiritual practices on experimental pain in healthy adults

“…3 15 16 Pain is influenced by a number of biological (eg, physiological aetiology, severity of physical damage), psychological (eg, pain-related beliefs and pain coping responses), social (eg, social support) and spiritual/religious (eg, meaning in life, religiosity) factors. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Not surprisingly, multidisciplinary treatment programmes that address the multifaceted nature of pain, including its psychosocial dimensions, are more effective than unimodal treatments that focus only on biomedical factors. [26][27][28] Given this evidence, multidisciplinary treatments that include instruction and encouragement in the use of psychological, social and spiritual coping may be useful.…”

“…Findings from the limited number of studies that have been conducted suggest that S/R and spiritual and religious practices may play a role in influencing pain (eg, pain tolerance and pain intensity) and pain-related outcomes (eg, pain-related distress). 19 20 47 50 54–56 59–61 These practices are thought to increase pain tolerance, determine a positive re-appraisal of pain and modulate psychosocial variables (eg, meaning of pain, beliefs and attributions, coping and mood) that are associated with pain experience. 22 47 60 62 …”