Pain, the self and persistence in problem solving

Research has suggested that people are motivated to achieve their hopes for the future (hoped-for self) while trying to move away from that which they fear becoming (feared-for self). In chronic pain populations, however, these hopes and fears become heavily dependent on the presence of pain. Research has suggested that there is a relationship between psychological distress and persistent attempts to remove pain in order to move away from one’s feared self (Wells, 2010). However, little is known about the relationship between the hoped-for self and persistent attempts at pain removal. The purpose of this research is to replicate the research of Wells (2010), adding to this work by exploring the relationship between persistent problem solving and the hoped-for self. An additional aim of the research was to further explore the use of a relatively new measure of scenario-based problem solving, the MEPS for Pain.

Sixty chronic pain patients were recruited from one pain clinic in Leeds. Participants completed measures of pain disability (PDI), pain acceptance (CPAQ), pain intensity (VAS), feared self interview, hoped self interview and previously used measures of problem solving attitudes (PaSol) and scenario-based problem solving (MEPS for Pain). Participants also completed the MEPS for Pain-PPS a new measure of personal problem solving.

Assimilative problem solving attitudes were significantly negatively correlated with feared-for self proximity but not enmeshment when using the PaSol, and did not correlate with any of the MEPS for Pain problem solving scales. Assimilative problem attitudes were significantly correlated with hoped-for self proximity and enmeshment when using the PaSol, but did not correlate with any of the MEPS for Pain problem solving scales. Assimilative problem solving as measured by the MEPS for Pain-PPS was correlated with hoped-for self enmeshment, but not with hoped-for self proximity or feared-for self proximity or enmeshment.

The results suggest a relationship between feared-for and hoped-for self variables and problem solving attitudes as measure by the PaSol, however show no relationship with chronic pain patients scenario-based problem solving attempts. The implications of these findings are explored, limitations highlighted and areas of future research suggested.