Feelings of Usefulness to Others Predict Active Coping With Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

Objective: To investigate associations of perceived usefulness to other people with active versus passive coping strategies among adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Additional aims explored contributions of personality variables to this dynamic. Method: 199 persons (70.3 years +/- 10.4) with knee OA reported personality, coping, and psychosocial data using the Big Five Inventory, subscales from the Social Provisions Scale, and the Coping With Illness measure. Regression analyses identified predictors of perceived usefulness and its independent and interactive associations with active versus passive coping and personality variables. Results: Better subjective health predicted perceived usefulness. Older adults with higher reported perceived usefulness employed more active than passive pain coping strategies. Passive coping was associated with neuroticism and greater functional disability. Discussion: Usefulness predicted active OA pain coping, suggesting that it may promote well-being among persons with chronic pain. Further study investigating perceived usefulness in promoting positive health behaviors is needed.