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Personality Characteristics as Differential Variables of the Pain Experience
Abstract
This study analyzes the relationships between neuroticism, extroversion, age, and sex and the intensity of perceived pain and the coping strategies used. We worked with a sample of 96 patients with chronic pain. The assessment tools were the following: the Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory, a Spanish version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. The hypothetical model establishes positive relationships between neuroticism, the use of passive coping strategies, and the intensity of pain. On the other hand, extraversion is expected to be positively related to the use of active coping strategies and negatively related to the perceived intensity of pain. The results support the hypotheses formulated regarding the effects of the variables neuroticism and extraversion. Age is negatively related to active coping strategies and pain intensity. Men use more active strategies than women, while the latter have a greater perception of pain.
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In the citing paper
“Ramirez-Maestre et al. (2004) found that neuroticism positively correlated with a passive coping style and intensity of perceived pain across a variety of conditions including rheumatic disease, cancer, LBP, and fibromyalgia.”
From Beyond yellow flags: The Big‐Five personality traits and psychologically informed musculoskeletal rehabilitation. (2023) · cites this paper as Ramirez-Maestre et al. (2004)
In the citing paper
“Ramirez-Maestre et al. (2004)found that extraversion was positively associated with active coping and negatively correlated with perceived pain in the same sample of patients with chronic disease.”
From Beyond yellow flags: The Big‐Five personality traits and psychologically informed musculoskeletal rehabilitation. (2023) · cites this paper as Ramirez-Maestre et al. (2004)
In the citing paper
“The findings consistently demonstrate elevated levels of neuroticism in patients suffering from these conditions (Bucourt et al., 2017;Conversano et al., 2018;Ramírez-Maestre et al., 2004), with some support for low levels of conscientiousness and extraversion (Bucourt et al., 2017;Mohn et al., 2010;Ramírez-Maestre et al., 2004;Torres et al., 2013).”
From Beyond yellow flags: The Big‐Five personality traits and psychologically informed musculoskeletal rehabilitation. (2023) · cites this paper as Ramírez-Maestre et al., 2004
In the citing paper
“Most of the work is in populations suffering from long-term chronic pain such as fibromyalgia or non-specific LBP (Conversano et al., 2018;Mohn et al., 2010;Ramírez-Maestre et al., 2004).”
From Beyond yellow flags: The Big‐Five personality traits and psychologically informed musculoskeletal rehabilitation. (2023) · cites this paper as Ramírez-Maestre et al., 2004
Citations
Cites
Multidimensional assessment of coping: a critical evaluation
Endler, N. S., & Parker, J. D. (1990) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.5.844 · Cited by 2,237 · cited 5×
“…Characteristics as Differential Variables of the Pain Experience 149 that might lead to poor adaptation to stress (Bolger, 1990; Costa and McCrae, 1990; Endler and Parker, 1990; Epstein and Meier, 1989; Gunthert et al., 1999; McCrae and Costa, 1986; Medvedova, 1998; Morasso et al., 1996).”
BackgroundInfluentialGender variations in clinical pain experience
Unruh, A. M. (1996) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(95)00214-6 · Cited by 1,550
Active and passive coping strategies in chronic pain patients
Snow-Turek, L. A., Norris, M. P., & Tan, G. (1996) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(95)00190-5 · Cited by 266
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ramírez-Maestre, C., Martínez, A. E. L., & Zarazaga, R. E.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 147-165
- ISSN
- 0160-7715 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3521
- OpenAlex
- W2096785055
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 3.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- McGill University
- Universidad de Málaga
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Keywords
- personality traits, neuroticism, extraversion, chronic pain, pain intensity, pain coping, sex differences, age differences, passive coping, active coping
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Personality Disorders
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