Sex, gender, and blood pressure: contributions to experimental pain report
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated whether the relationship between sex and experimental pain report was explained by systolic blood pressure (SBP) at rest or during pain task, by gender-role socialization as assessed by the Bem Sex Role Inventory, or both. The influence of gender-role socialization on pain report is often inferred but rarely studied. METHODS: Fifty female and 54 male healthy, young adults completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory and then underwent a cold pressor task. Blood pressure was assessed before and during pain testing. RESULTS: Univariate analyses indicated significant sex-related differences in pain threshold and pain tolerance. Baseline SBP was positively related to pain tolerance but did not explain sex differences, in accord with previous research. The Bem Sex Role Inventory demonstrated a relationship with pain, but did not explain sex differences. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that context-specific measures of gender are needed to assess gender-related pain behaviors in specific situations. Results from the current study support our contention that gender is part of sex as commonly measured. Also, blood pressure does not appear to fully account for sex-related differences in pain.
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In individuals with chronic pain, emotion-focused coping is associated with worse pain and functioning than problem-focused coping.
“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 [271]
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- Authors
- Myers, C. D., Robinson, M. E., Riley, J. L., & Sheffield, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida Health (US)
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2001-07
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 545-550
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2058225998
- Cited by
- 138
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 7.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01hl064580-04)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (1-R01 HL64580)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (T32DE007283, T32 DE07283-05)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Sex and Gender in Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- Keywords
- sex differences in pain, gender socialization, systolic blood pressure, experimental pain, pain threshold, pain tolerance, cold pressor task, Bem Sex Role Inventory, pain behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Arousal, Blood Pressure, Female, Gender Identity, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Pain Measurement, Personality Inventory, Psychophysiology, Pain Threshold
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