The DOI matches its Crossref record; 86 of the 86 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Psychosocial Contributions to Sex-Correlated Differences in Pain
Abstract
Sex-correlated differences in pain perception and behavior have been reported in several studies. Where such differences are found, they are most often in the direction of girls and women reporting more pain than is reported by boys and men. Although biologic, psychologic, and sociocultural factors act interdependently to influence pain responding, most efforts to explain sex-correlated differences in pain have focused on first-order biologic differences between the sexes. The current paper discusses empirical and theoretical literature addressing gender role socialization, cognitive factors, and affective factors associated with sex-correlated differences in pain. We affirm that there is convincing evidence that such psychosocial factors must be taken into account in research on sex-correlated differences in pain. We contend that the use of the dichotomous variable sex as a proxy for presumed biologic aspects of being female or male may obscure the contribution to sex-correlated differences that could be ascribed to the ways in which women and men are socialized with respect to pain perception and pain reporting.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“There is also evidence suggesting that, compared to problem-focused coping, emotion- focused coping is associated with worse pain and functioning in individuals with chronic pain 267, 271–277.”
From Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes (2018) · cites this paper as [272]
Citations
Cites
The measurement of psychological androgyny
Bem, S. L. (1974) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0036215 · Cited by 8,522
Gender variations in clinical pain experience
Unruh, A. M. (1996) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(95)00214-6 · Cited by 1,550
Putting gender into context: An interactive model of gender-related behavior.
Deaux, K., & Major, B. (1987) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.94.3.369 · Cited by 1,216
Berkley, K. J. (1997) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x97221485 · Cited by 1,125
Sex differences in the perception of noxious experimental stimuli: a meta-analysis
Riley, J. L., Robinson, M. E., Wise, E. A., Myers, C. D., & Fillingim, R. B. (1998) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(97)00199-1 · Cited by 1,085
Cultural Components in Responses to Pain1
Zborowski, M. (1952) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1952.tb01860.x · Cited by 884
Factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale
Osman, A., Barrios, F. X., Kopper, B. A., Hauptmann, W., Jones, J., & O'Neill, E. (1997) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1023/a:1025570508954 · Cited by 881
Coping with chronic pain: a critical review of the literature
Jensen, M. P., Turner, J. A., Romano, J. M., & Karoly, P. (1991) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(91)90216-k · Cited by 835
Culture and Symptoms--An Analysis of Patient's Presenting Complaints
Zola, I. K. (1966) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2091854 · Cited by 759
Coping with rheumatoid arthritis pain: catastrophizing as a maladaptive strategy
Keefe, F. J., Brown, G. K., Wallston, K. A., & Caldwell, D. S. (1989) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(89)90152-8 · Cited by 694
Toward a redefinition of sex and gender.
Unger, R. K. (1979) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.34.11.1085 · Cited by 622
Sex-related hormonal influences on pain and analgesic responses
Fillingim, R. B., & Ness, T. J. (2000) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/s0149-7634(00)00017-8 · Cited by 554
Sex, gender, and pain: women and men really are different
Fillingim, R. B. (2000) · Current Review of Pain · doi:10.1007/s11916-000-0006-6 · Cited by 488
Gender differences in the responses to noxious stimuli
Fillingim, R. B., & Maixner, W. D. (1995) · Pain Forum · doi:10.1016/s1082-3174(11)80022-x · Cited by 475
SPENCE, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Holahan, C. K. (1979) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.37.10.1673 · Cited by 455
Gender role expectations of pain: relationship to sex differences in pain
Robinson, M. E., Riley, J. L., Myers, C. D., Papas, R. K., Wise, E. A., Waxenberg, L. B., & Fillingim, R. B. (2001) · The Journal of Pain · doi:10.1054/jpai.2001.24551 · Cited by 423
Self-citationSPENCE, J. T., Helmreich, R. L., & Holahan, C. K. (1979) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.37.10.1673 · Cited by 370
The effects of experimenter gender on pain report in male and female subjects
Levine, F. M., & Simone, L. L. D. (1991) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(91)90149-r · Cited by 369
Gender role expectations of pain: relationship to experimental pain perception
Wise, E. A., Price, D. D., Myers, C. D., Heft, M. W., & Robinson, M. E. (2002) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(01)00473-0 · Cited by 359
Self-citationEthnic Differences in Pain Tolerance: Clinical Implications in a Chronic Pain Population
Edwards, R. R., Doleys, D. M., Fillingim, R. B., & Lowery, D. (2001) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-200103000-00018 · Cited by 358
Regarding Gender: Essentialism, Constructionism, and Feminist Psychology
Bohan, J. S. (1993) · Psychology of Women Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1993.tb00673.x · Cited by 340
Relation between catastrophizing and depression in chronic pain patients.
Sullivan, M. J. L., & D’Eon, J. L. (1990) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.99.3.260 · Cited by 325
Mothers, Fathers, and Peers as Socialization Agents of Sex-Typed Play Behaviors in Young Children
Langlois, J. H., & Downs, A. C. (1980) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1129566 · Cited by 312
Consequences of Moderate Cross-Gender Behavior in Preschool Children
Fagot, B. I. (1977) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1128339 · Cited by 290
Catastrophizing, depression and the sensory, affective and evaluative aspects of chronic pain
Geisser, M. E., Robinson, M. E., Keefe, F. J., & Weiner, M. L. (1994) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(94)90050-7 · Cited by 283
Self-citationSex differences in the perception of noxious heat stimuli
Feine, J. S., Bushnell, C. M., Miron, D., & Duncan, G. H. (1991) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(91)90094-e · Cited by 278
The male role and avoiding femininity
McCreary, D. R. (1994) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/bf01544277 · Cited by 276
Sexuality and Gender in Children's Daily Worlds
Thorne, B., & Luria, Z. (1986) · Social Problems · doi:10.2307/800703 · Cited by 266
THE INFLUENCE OF MOTHERS ON THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTH ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR
Mechanic, D. (1964) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.33.3.444 · Cited by 250
Does Gender Affect Appraisal of Pain and Pain Coping Strategies?
Unruh, A. M., Ritchie, J., & Merskey, H. (1999) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-199903000-00006 · Cited by 240
The relationship of sex and clinical pain to experimental pain responses
Fillingim, R. B., Edwards, R. R., & Powell, T. (1999) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(99)00128-1 · Cited by 223
Ethnic Differences in Thermal Pain Responses
Edwards, R. R., & Fillingim, R. B. (1999) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-199905000-00014 · Cited by 221
Race and Sex Differences in Cutaneous Pain Perception
Sheffield, D., Biles, P. L., Orom, H., Maixner, W. D., & Sheps, D. S. (2000) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-200007000-00010 · Cited by 218
Gender and age differences in attitudes to dental pain and dental control
Liddell, A., & Locker, D. (1997) · Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0528.1997.tb00945.x · Cited by 211
Lautenbacher, S., & Rollman, G. B. (1993) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(93)90221-a · Cited by 210
Ethnicity and the pain experience
Lipton, J. A., & Marbach, J. J. (1984) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/0277-9536(84)90015-7 · Cited by 200
Observations of Parent Reactions to Sex-Stereotyped Behaviors: Age and Sex Effects
Fagot, B. I., & Hagan, R. (1991) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01556.x · Cited by 198
Sex differences and personality factors in responsivity to pain
Otto, M. W., & Dougher, M. J. (1985) · Perceptual and Motor Skills · doi:10.2466/pms.1985.61.2.383 · Cited by 193
Cultural variations in response to painful stimuli.
Zatzick, D., & Dimsdale, J. E. (1990) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-199009000-00007 · Cited by 181
Pain coping strategies predict perceived control over pain
Haythornthwaite, J. A., Menefee, L. A., Heinberg, L. J., & Clark, M. R. (1998) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(98)00078-5 · Cited by 172
Culture and Gender Effects in Pain Beliefs and the Prediction of Pain Tolerance
Nayak, S., Shiflett, S. C., Eshun, S., & Levine, F. M. (2000) · Cross-Cultural Research · doi:10.1177/106939710003400203 · Cited by 169
Coping with long-term musculoskeletal pain and its consequences: is gender a factor?
Jensen, I. B., Nygren, Å., Gamberale, F., Goldie, I. F., & Westerholm, P. J. M. (1994) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(94)90220-8 · Cited by 153
Humor as a cognitive technique for increasing pain tolerance
Weisenberg, M., Tepper, I., & Schwarzwald, J. (1995) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(95)00046-u · Cited by 147
Biernat, M. (1991) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.61.3.351 · Cited by 147
Assessment of cognitive factors in chronic pain: A worthwhile enterprise?
Turk, D. C., & Rudy, T. E. (1986) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.54.6.760 · Cited by 145
Depression in chronic pain patients: Relation to pain, activity, and sex differences
Haley, W. E., Turner, J. A., & Romano, J. M. (1985) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(85)90003-x · Cited by 139
Sex, gender, and blood pressure: contributions to experimental pain report
Myers, C. D., Robinson, M. E., Riley, J. L., & Sheffield, D. (2001) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-200107000-00004 · Cited by 138
Self-citationObservations of Parent Reactions to Sex-Stereotyped Behaviors: Age and Sex Effects
Fagot, B. I., & Hagan, R. (1991) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131135 · Cited by 137
‘Booboos’: the study of everyday pain among young children
Fearon, I., McGrath, P. J., & Achat, H. (1996) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(96)03200-9 · Cited by 122
How do children describe pain? A tentative assessment
SAVEDRA, M. C., Gibbons, P., Tesler, M. D., Ward, J. D., & Wegner, C. (1982) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(82)90091-4 · Cited by 116
Biernat, M. (1991) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.61.3.351 · Cited by 114
Health locus of control, gender differences and adjustment to persistent pain
Buckelew, S. P., Shutty, M. S., Hewett, J. E., Landon, T., Morrow, K., & Frank, R. G. (1990) · Pain · doi:10.1016/0304-3959(90)91141-5 · Cited by 103
Evers, A. W. M., Kraaimaat, F., Geenen, R., & Bijlsma, J. W. J. (1997) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1023/a:1025555600896 · Cited by 100
Sex-specific effects of pain-related anxiety on adjustment to chronic pain
Edwards, R., Augustson, E. M., & Fillingim, R. (2000) · The Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-200003000-00008 · Cited by 98
Turk, D. C., & Okifuji, A. (1999) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(99)00041-x · Cited by 95
Vicarious influences on pain-threshold determinations.
Craig, K. D., & Weiss, S. M. (1971) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0031097 · Cited by 94
Social modeling influences on sensory decision theory and psychophysiological indexes of pain.
Craig, K. D., & Prkachin, K. M. (1978) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.36.8.805 · Cited by 93
Burns, J. W., Johnson, B. J. B., Devine, J., Mahoney, N. D., & Pawl, R. P. (1998) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(98)00080-1 · Cited by 91
Lester, N., Lefebvre, J. C., & Keefe, F. J. (1994) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-199412000-00007 · Cited by 91
Influence of sex and anxiety on pain threshold and tolerance.
Robin, O., Vinard, H., Vernet-Maury, E., & Saumet, J. (1987) · PubMed · Cited by 80
Are people's notions of maleness more stereotypically framed than their notions of femaleness?
Hort, B. E., Fagot, B. I., & Leinbach, M. D. (1990) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/bf00289866 · Cited by 79
Fillingim, R. B., Edwards, R. R., & Powell, T. (2000) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(00)00239-6 · Cited by 79
Self-Reported Abuse History and Pain Complaints among Young Adults
Fillingim, R. B., Wilkinson, C. S., & Powell, T. (1999) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-199906000-00004 · Cited by 79
Social modeling influences on sensory decision theory and psychophysiological indexes of pain.
Craig, K. D., & Prkachin, K. M. (1978) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.36.8.805 · Cited by 74
Psychosocial mediators of sex differences in pain responsivity
Sanford, S. D., Kersh, B. C., Thorn, B. E., Rich, M. A., & Ward, L. C. (2002) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1054/jpai.2002.xb30066 · Cited by 72
Sorry, Wrong Number—A Reply to Gentile's Call
Deaux, K. (1993) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1993.tb00474.x · Cited by 67
Sex Differences in Clinical Pain: A Multisample Study
Robinson, M. E., Wise, E. A., Riley, J. L., & Atchison, J. W. (1998) · Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · doi:10.1023/a:1026282210848 · Cited by 65
Self-citationEthnic and Sex Differences in Response to Clinical and Induced Pain in Chronic Spinal Pain Patients
Lawlis, G. F., Achterberg, J., KENNER, L., & KOPETZ, K. (1984) · Spine · doi:10.1097/00007632-198410000-00017 · Cited by 65
Children's coping with venipuncture
Hodgins, M. J., & Lander, J. (1997) · Journal of Pain and Symptom Management · doi:10.1016/s0885-3924(96)00328-4 · Cited by 63
Gender and psychological well‐being of persons with rheumatoid arthritis
Dowdy, S. W., Dwyer, K. A., Smith, C. A., & Wallston, K. A. (1996) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1790090606 · Cited by 63
Härkäpä, K. (1991) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-199112000-00005 · Cited by 60
Weir, R., BROWNE, G. B., Tunks, E., Gafni, A., & Roberts, J. (1996) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-199612000-00007 · Cited by 60
Koutantji, M., Pearce, S. A., & Oakley, D. A. (1998) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(98)00075-x · Cited by 59
Appraisal and response to pain may be a function of its bodily location
Klonoff, E. A., Landrine, H., & Brown, M. (1993) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/0022-3999(93)90061-j · Cited by 55
Sexuality and Gender in Children's Daily Worlds
Thorne, B., & Luria, Z. (1986) · Social Problems · doi:10.1525/sp.1986.33.3.03a00020 · Cited by 49
Gender, paid work, and symptoms of emotional distress in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Fifield, J., Reisine, S., Sheehan, T. J., et al. (1996) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.1780390310 · Cited by 48
Menstrual cycle symptom reporting in three British ethnic groups
van den Akker, O., Eves, F. F., Service, S., et al. (1995) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/0277-9536(94)00265-u · Cited by 45
A status theory of the evaluation of sex-role and age-role behavior
Feinman, S. (1984) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/bf00287561 · Cited by 43
Chronic low back pain: Toward an integrated psychosocial assessment model.
Strong, J., Ashton, R., & Stewart, A. (1994) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.62.5.1058 · Cited by 38
Chronic low back pain: Toward an integrated psychosocial assessment model.
Strong, J., Ashton, R., & Stewart, A. (1994) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.62.5.1058 · Cited by 36
Psychological distress and disability in back pain patients: Evidence of sex differences
Bolton, J. E. (1994) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/0022-3999(94)90072-8 · Cited by 32
Long-lasting changes in rostral ventral medulla neuronal activity after inflammation
Robinson, D. A., Calejesan, A. A., & Zhuo, M. (2002) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1054/jpai.2002.125183 · Cited by 30
Gender, Primary Headache, and Psychological Distress
Gilbar, O., Bazak, Y., & Harel, Y. (1998) · Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain · doi:10.1046/j.1526-4610.1998.3801031.x · Cited by 18
The effects of vicarious experience on pain termination and work avoidance: A replication
Turkat, I. D., Guise, B. J., & Carter, K. M. (1983) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(83)90040-2 · Cited by 13
The impact of recurrent headaches on behavior lifestyle and health
Lacroix, R., & Barbaree, H. E. (1990) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(90)90006-5 · Cited by 12
Test of Reliability of Perception of Parental and Childhood Illness Behavior
Turkat, I. D., & Guise, B. J. (1983) · Perceptual and Motor Skills · doi:10.2466/pms.1983.57.1.101 · Cited by 4
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Carter, 1984, 1983-, 2, 294
- Mechanic, 1964, Pediatrics, 33, 444
- Fillingim, 1996, J Gender Culture Health, 1, 21
- Sullivan, 1990, J Abn Psychol, 99, 260, 10.1037/0021-843X.99.3.260 · DOI
- Robin, 1987, Funct Neurol, 2, 173
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Sex, gender, and pain: a review of recent clinical and experimental findings
Fillingim, R. B., King, C. D., Ribeiro-Dasilva, M. C., Rahim-Williams, B., & Riley, J. L. (2009) · The Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2008.12.001 · Cited by 2,766
Self-citationStudying sex and gender differences in pain and analgesia: a consensus report
Greenspan, J. D., Craft, R. M., LeResche, L., Arendt-Nielsen, L., Berkley, K. J., Fillingim, R. B., Gold, M. S., Holdcroft, A., Lautenbacher, S., Mayer, E. A., et al. (2007) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2007.10.014 · Cited by 1,033
Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes
Meints, S. M., & Edwards, R. R. (2018) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.01.017 · Cited by 719
Valet, M., Sprenger, T., Boecker, H., Willoch, F., Rummeny, E., Conrad, B., Erhard, P., & Tolle, T. R. (2004) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2004.02.033 · Cited by 708
Racine, M., Tousignant-Laflamme, Y., Kloda, L. A., Dion, D., Dupuis, G., & Choinière, M. (2012) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.11.025 · Cited by 691
Metadata
- Authors
- Myers, C. D., Riley, J. L., & Robinson, M. E.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Myers, Cynthia D.
- Venue
- The Clinical Journal of Pain
- Published
- 2003-07
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 225-232
- ISSN
- 0749-8047 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2331134117
- Cited by
- 211
- References
- 86
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 1.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1r15mh057131-01a1)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R15MH57131)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE 13208-01A2, DE007283)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Sex and Gender in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Keywords
- sex differences in pain, pain perception, pain reporting, psychosocial factors, gender socialization, cognitive factors, emotional factors
- MeSH terms
- Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Pain, Pain Measurement, Psychology, Sex Factors, Mood Disorders
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review