The Impact of Pain Coping Strategies on Chronic Pain Among Native Americans

Background

Compared to other U.S. racial/ethnic groups, Native Americans (NAs) have a greater likelihood of developing chronic pain. Considering this inequity, it is important to understand which coping strategies are associated with pain intensity and interference for NAs.

Purpose

The present study explored whether three coping strategies were associated with pain intensity and interference, and whether they moderated the impact of pain intensity on pain interference.

Methods

NAs with chronic pain (N = 103) completed surveys that assessed past week average pain intensity (11-point numerical rating scale), past week pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory, extended version), and task persistence, resting, and coping self-statements (Chronic Pain Coping Inventory). Regression analyses were used to predict pain intensity and interference from coping strategies, after controlling for age, sex, education, and income.

Results

Greater use of coping self-statements (p=.013) and lower income (p=.023) were associated with higher pain intensity. Higher pain intensity (p<.001), greater use of coping-self statements (p=.031), and lower task persistence (p=.003) were associated with more pain interference. No strategy moderated the relationship between pain intensity and pain interference (ps > 0.05).

Conclusions

These results suggest task persistence may help mitigate the impact of NA chronic pain, regardless of experienced pain intensity. By contrast, coping self-statements were not associated with chronic pain consequences.