Self-compassion in patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain: relationship of self-compassion to adjustment to persistent pain
Open accessAbstract
Context Self-compassion entails qualities such as kindness and understanding toward oneself in difficult circumstances and may influence adjustment to persistent pain. Self-compassion may be a particularly influential factor in pain adjustment for obese individuals who suffer from persistent pain, as they often experience heightened levels of pain and lower levels of psychological functioning.Objectives The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship of self-compassion to pain, psychological functioning, pain coping, and disability among patients who have persistent musculoskeletal pain and who are obese.Methods Eighty-eight obese patients with persistent pain completed a paper-and-pencil self-report assessment measure before or after their appointment with their anesthesiologist.Results Hierarchical linear regression analyses demonstrated that even after controlling for important demographic variables, self-compassion was a significant predictor of negative affect (β=-0.48, P<0.001), positive affect (β=0.29, P=0.01), pain catastrophizing (β=-0.32, P=0.003), and pain disability (β=-0.24, P<0.05).Conclusion The results of this study indicate that self-compassion may be important in explaining the variability in pain adjustment among patients who have persistent musculoskeletal pain and are obese.
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A person's level of self-compassion can be a predictor in their ability to adjust to pain.
“It has been shown that a person’s level of self-compassion can be a predictor in their ability to adjust to pain.23”
From ‘All these things don’t take the pain away but they do help you to accept it’: making the case for compassion-focused therapy in the management of persistent pain (2020) · cites this paper as [23]
The Hierarchical Linear Regression results identify self-compassion as a significant independent predictor of pain catastrophizing and pain disability, both measures of adjustment to pain. The Discussion limits these findings to the studied patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain who were obese and cautions against generalizing them to a broader population; the claim’s reference to a person in general is therefore wider than the evidence. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCultivating a nonjudgmental stance may contribute to self-compassion and acceptance, which then increase experiences of positive affect.
“as self-compassion has been associated with higher positive affect (Frederickson et al., 2008; Wren et al., 2012), cultivating a nonjudgmental stance contribute to self-compassion and acceptance, which then increase experiences of positive affect.”
From Mapping Mindfulness Facets Onto Dimensions of Anxiety and Depression (2013) · cites this paper as Wren et al., 2012
Self-compassion is associated with several positive pain-related outcomes.
“Self-compassion has been associated with several positive pain-related outcomes.”
From Increasing access to pain management: Feasibility of a self-compassion psychoeducational website using a minimally monitored delivery model (2021) · cites this paper as Wren et al., 2012
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References 88 · Cited by 173
Research works printed but not linked: 3
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- Authors
- Wren, A. A., Somers, T. J., Wright, M. A., Goetz, M. C., Leary, M. R., Fras, A. M., Huh, B. K., Rogers, L. L., & Keefe, F. J.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- Duke Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Keefe, Francis J.
- Venue
- Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-04
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 759-770
- ISSN
- 0885-3924 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2104921755
- Cited by
- 173
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 5.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
- Keywords
- self-compassion, chronic musculoskeletal pain, obesity, pain catastrophizing, pain-related disability, psychological functioning, negative affect, positive affect, pain coping
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Health, Chronic Disease, Empathy, Female, Disabled Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, North Carolina, Obesity, Risk Factors, Self-Assessment, Stress, Psychological, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Risk Assessment, Arthralgia
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