Self-appraised problem solving and pain-relevant social support as predictors of the experience of chronic pain

The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of self-appraised problem-solving competence and pain-relevant social support to the prediction of pain, depression, and disability. The 234 chronic pain patients referred for participation in a comprehensive pain management program were administered self-report measures of pain, depression, disability, pain-relevant social support, and problem solving. Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses revealed that lower self-appraised problem-solving competence was related to increased pain, depression, and disability. Pain-relevant social support was directly related to pain and disability but indirectly related to depression. High levels of pain-relevant social support were found to buffer the relation between poorer self-appraised problem-solving competence and depressive symptoms. The results support the assessment of problem-solving skills in chronic pain patients and the investigation and utility of interventions aimed at increasing adaptive pain-relevant social support.