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Effects of Pain Controllability and Discrepancy in Social Support on Depressed Mood Among Patients with Chronic Pain

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Abstract

Background

Preference of types of social support may vary across recipients, and social support that is less than the amount preferred may be associated with depressed mood.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the interaction effects between pain controllability and discrepancy in social support and the additive utility of discrepancy in social support over perceived social support in predicting depressed mood among patients with chronic pain.

Method

A total of 173 patients seeking treatment at two outpatient pain management clinics in Hawaii participated.

Results

The results indicated that (1) patients with low pain controllability preferred significantly more social support than those with high pain controllability, for all types of social support; (2) patients preferred significantly more informational and emotional support than instrumental support for both pain controllability levels; (3) discrepancy in informational or instrumental support was not associated with depressed mood, whereas discrepancy in emotional support was significantly associated with more depressed mood for low pain controllability, but not for high pain controllability; and (4) discrepancy in emotional support added a significant increment of variance in predicting depressed mood over and above perceived emotional support, whereas discrepancy in informational or instrumental support did not.

Conclusion

Findings suggest the relative importance of discrepancy in emotional support from a significant other, especially for patients with low pain controllability.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Graduate Student Organization at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. We have no financial or other relationships that might lead to a conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Chung-Ang University, 221 Dongjak-gu, Heukseok-dong, Seoul, South Korea

    Sungkun Cho

  2. Manakai-O Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Ira D. Zunin

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2530 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Puihan J. Chao & Elaine M. Heiby

  4. Neuroscience and Pain/Integrative Medicine, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Honolulu, HI, USA

    James McKoy

Authors
  1. Sungkun Cho
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  2. Ira D. Zunin
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  3. Puihan J. Chao
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  4. Elaine M. Heiby
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  5. James McKoy
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Correspondence to Sungkun Cho.

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Cho, S., Zunin, I.D., Chao, P.J. et al. Effects of Pain Controllability and Discrepancy in Social Support on Depressed Mood Among Patients with Chronic Pain. Int.J. Behav. Med. 19, 270–279 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-011-9175-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-011-9175-4

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