Pain as an assault on the self: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychological impact of chronic benign low back pain
Abstract
This paper presents an in-depth, idiographic study illustrating how chronic benign low back pain may have a serious debilitating impact on the sufferer's sense of self. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six patients and the resultant transcripts subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. The analysis points to the powerful ways in which chronic pain has negative impact on patients’ self and identity. This impact is made worse in the public arena. Some of the participants describe how the ensuing derogatory self image also seems to lead to their directing negative affect towards other people. The results section gives a detailed account of these processes at work. The results are then considered in relation to relevant constructs in the extant literature, including work on illness and identity, shame and acceptance.
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Smith and Osborn found that people with persistent pain reported experiencing shame in social and relational contexts through negative self re-appraisal.
“This is supported by Smith and Osborn14 who interviewed people with persistent pain and found people reported experiencing feelings of shame when in social and relational contexts through the process of negative self re-appraisal.14”
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- Authors
- Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M.
- Affiliations
- University of London (GB)
- Royal United Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Jonathan A.
- ORCID
- Smith, Jonathan A.
- Venue
- Psychology & Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-06-11
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 517-534
- ISSN
- 0887-0446 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-8321
- OpenAlex
- W2048383746
- Cited by
- 579
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 3.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology and Health (publishedVersion)
- BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Medicine, History, and Philosophy
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
- Keywords
- chronic low back pain, self-concept, identity, self-image, shame, acceptance, negative affect, public perception of illness
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