New Research Highlights Psychological Resilience in Chronic Pain Management

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Washington and Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon was published in Pain Medicine. This research explored how cultivating a belief in a purposeful life despite the challenges of chronic pain can foster better psychological outcomes.

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“Chronic pain is a pervasive issue that has the potential to negatively impact one’s well-being and quality of life”, explains Alexandra Ferreira-Valente, researcher at Iscte’s Center for Psychological Research and Social Intervention (CIS-Iscte). The study aimed to explore how beliefs about living a meaningful life are associated with better adjustment in adults with chronic pain.

The research team surveyed a diverse sample of 164 participants with chronic pain. They assessed several psychological variables, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, personal beliefs, and coping strategies used to tackle chronic pain and its interference with daily living. Their results indicated that the ability to find meaning in life, even amidst adversity, was associated with lower pain interference, and with less severe symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This reinforces the idea that fostering a sense of purpose is key to one’s emotional well-being, despite adversity. Existential phenomenological psychological interventions focusing meaning and sense of purpose, alongside physical treatments, maybe a powerful instruments towards this end.

“Our findings revealed that people who maintained a strong belief in their ability to live meaningfully, despite their pain, showed improved levels of functioning and resilience.”, explains Alexandra Ferreira-Valente. According to the researcher, this suggests that personal beliefs and attitudes can serve as critical factors in managing the psychological toll of chronic illness.

Regarding the broader implications of the study, the research team highlights the necessity of integrating psychological resilience and meaning-making into chronic pain treatment plans, since understanding that one can live meaningful lives despite pain, and strengthening one’s sense of purpose may lead to enhanced therapeutic approaches. “This calls for a multidisciplinary approach in chronic pain healthcare services.”, concludes Alexandra Ferreira-Valente.

For the authors, future research should focus on exploring the causal relationships between belief systems and health outcomes. The research team was composed of David E. Reed II (University of Washington; VA Puget Sound Health Care), Melissa A. Day (University of Washington; The University of Queensland), Alexandra Ferreira-Valente (CIS-Iscte), and Mark P. Jensen (University of Washington), and the paper can be accessed in: https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnae091

Text written by Pedro Simão Mendes (Science Communication Manager)