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Self‐efficacy mediates the relation between pain‐related fear and outcome in chronic low back pain patients
Author(s) -
Woby Steve R.,
Urmston Martin,
Watson Paul J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejpain.2006.10.009
Subject(s) - pain catastrophizing , chronic pain , self efficacy , psychology , physical therapy , medicine , clinical psychology , psychotherapist
This study aimed to determine whether self‐efficacy beliefs mediated the relation between pain‐related fear and pain, and between pain‐related fear and disability in CLBP patients who exhibited high pain‐related fear. In a cross‐sectional design, 102 chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients completed measures for pain, disability, self‐efficacy and pain‐related fear (fear of movement and catastrophizing). Multistep regression analyses were performed to determine whether self‐efficacy mediated the relation between pain‐related fear and outcome (pain and/or disability). Self‐efficacy was found to mediate the relation between pain‐related fear and pain intensity, and between pain‐related fear and disability. Therefore, this study suggests that when self‐efficacy is high, elevated pain‐related fear might not lead to greater pain and disability. However, in instances where self‐efficacy is low, elevated pain‐related fear is likely to lead to greater pain and disability. In view of these findings, we conclude that it is imperative to assess both pain‐related fear and self‐efficacy when treating CLBP patients with high pain‐related fear.