The role of pain catastrophizing as a mediator in the work disability process following acute low back pain
2017 (English)In: Journal of applied biobehavioral research, ISSN 1071-2089, E-ISSN 1751-9861, Vol. 22, no 1, article id UNSP e12085Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The purpose of this study was to assess pain catastrophizing as a mediator in the relationships between pain and recovery expectations with work limitations and functional disability in a working population experiencing acute low back pain (LBP). Workers (n=241) with acute, work-related LBP completed measures of pain and injury at medical intake and then the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) shortly after the initial intake visit. At 3-months follow-up, measures of work limitations and functional disability were administered. Structural equation modeling was used to assess whether the PCS mediated longitudinal associations between pain and recovery expectations with perceived disability and work limitations. The PCS score completely mediated the relationship between initial pain intensity and 3-month perceptions of disability (40% explained) and work limitations (29% explained). The PCS also completely mediated the longitudinal relationship between pain recovery expectations and 3-month disability (50% explained) and work limitations (40% explained). Effective clinical management during this acute phase of LBP might be improved by incorporating early interventions to reduce catastrophizing in caseswhere pain catastrophizing may be especially problematic.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2017. Vol. 22, no 1, article id UNSP e12085
Keywords [en]
pain catastrophizing, work disability, acute low back pain, mediation
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-57068DOI: 10.1111/jabr.12085ISI: 000398537400002Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85016123835OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-57068DiVA, id: diva2:1088972
Note
Funding Agencies:
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, MA, USA LMRIS 12-05
International Association for the Study of Pain - Scan/Design Foundation by Inger and Jens Bruun
2017-04-182017-04-182018-09-04Bibliographically approved