Investigating acceptance in adjustment to chronic pain: Is acceptance broader than we thought?

Nicholas, Michael K.; Asghari, Ali

doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.04.032

Cited by 100Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPediatric Pain Management Techniques

Investigating acceptance in adjustment to chronic pain: Is acceptance broader than we thought?

Nicholas, Michael K., Asghari, Ali·2006·Pain

DOI 10.1016/j.pain.2006.04.032

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Abstract

Research on the role of acceptance in adjustment to persisting pain has been facilitated by the development of the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ). However, to date the CPAQ has been used to explore acceptance of pain without taking into account the likely contribution of other cognitive variables that have been shown to influence adjustment to persisting pain. This study examined the role of pain acceptance, as measured by the CPAQ, in accounting for adjustment to pain when controlling for the effects of other cognitive variables. The results indicated that while the Activity engagement subscale of the CPAQ was predictive of depression severity, neither of the CPAQ's two subscales was predictive of pain severity or physical disability. These findings differ from some reported previously and they suggest that the CPAQ, by itself, may not be sufficient to explain the processes of acceptance of pain and, hence, adjustment to pain. The findings also indicate that the Pain willingness subscale of the CPAQ is not robust and should be discarded. A broader approach to investigating acceptance of pain is proposed.

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The Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire has well-established internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.72-0.92) and test-retest reliability (interclass correlation coefficient=0.86; 95%CI 0.81 to 0.90).
“The internal consistency and the test–retest reliability of the CPAQ are well established (Cronbach's α 0.72–0.92 and interclass correlation coefficient=0.86; 95%CI 0.81 to 0.90), respectively.48–51”
From Comparing the clinical-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention with a waiting list control among adults with chronic pain: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (2014) · cites this paper as [49]

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Authors: Nicholas, M. K., & Asghari, A.
Affiliations: Shahed University (IR)
Corresponding author: Nicholas, Michael K.
ORCID: Nicholas, Michael K.
Venue: Pain
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published: 2006-10
Volume: 124
Issue: 3
Pages: 269-279
ISSN: 0304-3959 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2006.04.032
OpenAlex: W2089512943
Cited by: 100
References: 28
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 5.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Pain (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
Keywords: pain acceptance, Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, depression, pain intensity, physical disability, cognitive factors, activity engagement
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Chronic Disease, Depression, Disability Evaluation, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Predictive Value of Tests, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reproducibility of Results, Self Efficacy

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Investigating acceptance in adjustment to chronic pain: Is acceptance broader than we thought?

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