Impact of Religious Coping on Pain Processing in Chronic Pain Patients
Rene Hefti, M.D., Director, Research Institute for Spirituality and Health, University of Bern
Several studies have shown the beneficial influence of religiosity in pain patients. Religious coping is seen as a “key mechanism” in promoting adaptation to chronic pain. The present study aims to further understand how positive and negative religious coping (RCOPE) interact with psychological mechanisms supporting pain control (FESV) and acceptance of pain (CPAQ).
183 chronic pain patients admitted to a center for pain medicine in Switzerland have been investigated. All patients completed a series of pain questionnaires (CPAQ, DSF, MPSS, FESV, NRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as well as two religious measures (RST, Brief RCOPE). The interaction between religious coping, psychological symptoms and coping with pain was assessed by performing correlations (Pearson/Spaerman) and linear regression analyses.
The present study confirms the association between religiosity and coping with chronic pain. Positive religious coping had a significant positive impact on cognitive pain processing, mainly on cognitive restructuring and self-efficacy. Negative religious coping showed a significant inverse relationship and is therefore maladaptive to chronic pain. Both aspects are relevant for the treatment of pain patients.
Several studies have shown the beneficial influence of religiosity in pain patients. Religious coping is seen as a “key mechanism” in promoting adaptation to chronic pain. The present study aims to further understand how positive and negative religious coping (RCOPE) interact with psychological mechanisms supporting pain control (FESV) and acceptance of pain (CPAQ).
183 chronic pain patients admitted to a center for pain medicine in Switzerland have been investigated. All patients completed a series of pain questionnaires (CPAQ, DSF, MPSS, FESV, NRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as well as two religious measures (RST, Brief RCOPE). The interaction between religious coping, psychological symptoms and coping with pain was assessed by performing correlations (Pearson/Spaerman) and linear regression analyses.
The present study confirms the association between religiosity and coping with chronic pain. Positive religious coping had a significant positive impact on cognitive pain processing, mainly on cognitive restructuring and self-efficacy. Negative religious coping showed a significant inverse relationship and is therefore maladaptive to chronic pain. Both aspects are relevant for the treatment of pain patients.