Mediation and moderation effects of culture, religion, beliefs and coping in the adjustment to chronic pain.

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Publications

Immediate effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and prayer on cold pressor outcomes: A four-arm parallel experimental study

Publication . Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Van Dyke, Benjamin; Day, Melissa A; Teotónio do Carmo, Catarina; P. Ribeiro, J.L.; Pimenta, Filipa; Costa, Rui M; Jensen, Mark

Purpose: Previous research supports the usefulness of hypnosis (HYP), mindfulness meditation (MM), and prayer as pain self -management strategies in adults with chronic pain. However, their effects on acute pain have been less researched, and no previous head-to-head study compared the immediate effects of these three approaches on pain-related outcomes. This study compared the immediate effects of HYP, MM, and Christian prayer (CP) on pain intensity, pain tolerance, and stress as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). Participants and Methods: A total of 232 healthy adults were randomly assigned to, and completed, a single 20-minute session of MM, SH, CP, or an attention control (CN), and underwent two cycles (one pre- and one post-intervention) of Cold Pressor Arm Wrap (CPAW). Sessions were audio-delivered. Participants responded to pre- and post-intervention pain intensity measurements. Pain tolerance (sec) was assessed during the CPAW cycles. HRV was assessed at baseline, and at pre- and post-intervention CPAW cycles. The study protocol was pre-registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT04491630). Results: Small within-group decreases in pain intensity and small increases in pain tolerance were found for HYP and MM from the pre- to the post-intervention. Small within-group improvements in the LH/HF ratio were also found for HYP. The exploratory between-group pairwise comparisons revealed a medium effect size effects of HYP on pain tolerance relative to the control condition. The effects of CP were positive, but small and not statistically significant. Only small to medium, though non-significant, Time × Group interaction effects were found. Conclusion: Study results suggest that single short-term HYP and MM sessions, but not biblical-based CP, may be useful for acute pain self-management, with HYP being the slightly superior option. Future research should compare the effects of different types of prayer and examine the predictors and moderators of these pain approaches’ effects on pain-related outcomes

2022Journal article

Open access

Effects of COVID-19 social distancing measures in individuals with chronic pain living in Spain in the late stages of the lockdown

Publication . Miró, Jordi; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Elisabet; Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Pais Brito, José Luis; Ciaramella, Antonella

Social distancing measures during the lockdown have had a negative impact on chronic pain patients’ function. Research, however, has only focused on the early stages of the first lockdowns. The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of the effects of COVID-19 social distancing measures on individuals with chronic pain living in Spain during the late stages of the lockdown. A group of 361 adults with pain participated in this study. They responded to an online survey and provided information on sociodemographic issues, pain, fatigue, perceived health, and quality of life. The data showed that most participants suffered moderate to severe pain and interferences with pain treatment and an increase in pain intensity during the lockdown. Most participants also informed us that fatigue had worsened during the lockdown (62%). Importantly, females with lower monthly family income and lower education have been found to be associated with greater levels of pain and fatigue. Despite this, participants perceived themselves as having good health and good quality of life. The findings from this study can be used to inform policy and specific responses for future COVID-19 waves and future pandemics where social distancing measures must be implemented.

2021Journal article

Open access

Are prayer-based Interventions effective pain management options? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Publication . Jarego, Margarida; Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Queiroz-Garcia, Inês; Day, Melissa A.; Pais-Ribeiro, José; Costa, Rui M.; Pimenta, Filipa; Jensen, Mark

This review examined the efects of private and communal participatory prayer on pain. Nine databases were searched. Six randomized controlled trials were included. For private prayer, medium to large efects emerged for 67% to 69% of betweengroup comparisons; participants in the prayer condition reported lower pain intensity (0.59

2022Journal article

Open access

Does religiosity/spirituality play a role in function, pain-related beliefs, and coping in patients with Chronic Pain? A Systematic Review

Publication . Valente, Maria Alexandra Ferreira; Sharma, Saurab; Torres, Sandra; Smothers, Zachary; Ribeiro, José Luis Pais; Abbott, J. Haxby; Jensen, Mark

This systematic review examined the extent to which measures of religiosity/spirituality (R/S): (1) are associated with pain, function, pain-related beliefs (beliefs), coping responses, and catastrophizing in people with chronic pain; and (2) moderate the association between beliefs, coping and catastrophizing, and pain and function. Experimental and observational studies examining at least one of these research questions in adults with chronic pain were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed eligibility screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Twenty studies were included. Most studies focused on the association between R/S and pain or function. When significant associations emerged, those between R/S and psychological function were weak to strong and positive; those between religious/spiritual well-being and pain and physical dysfunction were negative, but weak. Few studies examined the associations between R/S and beliefs/coping/catastrophizing; none examined the moderation role of R/S. The findings suggest that R/S is associated with pain and psychological function in people with chronic pain, and that viewing oneself as being "spiritual," regardless of religion, may contribute to positive psychological adjustment. More research is needed to determine the reliability of this finding. PROSPERO registry CRD42018088803.

2019Journal article

Open access

Correction to: Does religiosity/spirituality play a role in function, pain‑related beliefs, and coping in patients with chronic pain? A systematic review

Publication . Valente, Maria Alexandra Ferreira; Sharma, Saurab; Torres, Sandra; Smothers, Zachary; Ribeiro, José Luis Pais; Abbott, J. Haxby; Jensen, Mark

This systematic review examined the extent to which measures of religiosity/spirituality (R/S): (1) are associated with pain, function, pain-related beliefs (beliefs), coping responses, and catastrophizing in people with chronic pain; and (2) moderate the association between beliefs, coping and catastrophizing, and pain and function. Experimental and observational studies examining at least one of these research questions in adults with chronic pain were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed eligibility screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Twenty studies were included. Most studies focused on the association between R/S and pain or function. When significant associations emerged, those between R/S and psychological function were weak to strong and positive; those between religious/ spiritual well-being and pain and physical dysfunction were negative, but weak. Few studies examined the associations between R/S and beliefs/coping/catastrophizing; none examined the moderation role of R/S. The findings suggest that R/S is associated with pain and psychological function in people with chronic pain, and that viewing oneself as being “spiritual,” regardless of religion, may contribute to positive psychological adjustment. More research is needed to determine the reliability of this finding. PROSPERO registry CRD42018088803.

2019Journal article

Restricted access