Social distancing with chronic pain during COVID-19: a cross-sectional correlational analysis.

Donaghy, Bethany ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2695-8105, Walker, Susannah and Moore, David (2022) Social distancing with chronic pain during COVID-19: a cross-sectional correlational analysis. [Data Collection]

Abstract

Background: Understanding of the role social factors play in chronic pain is growing, with more adaptive and satisfying social relationships helping pain management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures facilitated a naturalistic study of how changes to social interaction affected chronic pain intensity.

Methods: In a cross-sectional correlational design, questionnaire data was collected over a 38-day period during the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, individuals with chronic pain were asked about their current pain experience as well as notable social factors which might relate to pain.

Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed social satisfaction significantly predicted pain experience, with a reduction in social participation during COVID-19 lockdowns increasing pain disability, and increased social satisfaction associated with decreasing pain intensity.

Conclusions: While pain management often focuses on the functional aspects of pain alleviation, these findings suggest psychological aspects of socialising satisfaction also impact pain experience. Pain management strategies should consider ways to increase social satisfaction in individuals with chronic pain, perhaps by facilitating socialisation in the home using remote communication methods similar to those which became popular during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Creators:	Donaghy, Bethany, Walker, Susannah and Moore, David
ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2695-8105UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Chronic Pain; COVID-19; Pain; Social Factors
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.24377/LJMU.d.00000132
Division:	Psychology (new Sep 2019)
Field of Research:	Biomedical and clinical sciences > Clinical sciences > Pain Psychology
Date Deposited:	07 Oct 2022 08:26
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2024 17:35
URI:	https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/132
Data collection method:	Cross-sectional data collected via online questionnaires
Resource language:	Numerical and Written
Metadata language:	English
Collection period:	From To March 2020 April 2020