Does Religiosity/Spirituality Play a Role in Function, Pain-Related Beliefs, and Coping in Patients with Chronic Pain? A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review examined the extent to which measures of religiosity/spirituality (R/S): (1) are associated with pain, function, pain-related beliefs (beliefs), coping responses, and catastrophizing in people with chronic pain; and (2) moderate the association between beliefs, coping and catastrophizing, and pain and function. Experimental and observational studies examining at least one of these research questions in adults with chronic pain were eligible. Two reviewers independently performed eligibility screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Twenty studies were included. Most studies focused on the association between R/S and pain or function. When significant associations emerged, those between R/S and psychological function were weak to strong and positive; those between religious/ spiritual well-being and pain and physical dysfunction were negative, but weak. Few studies examined the associations between R/S and beliefs/coping/catastrophizing; none examined the moderation role of R/S. The findings suggest that R/S is associated with pain and psychological function in people with chronic pain, and that viewing oneself as being "spiritual," regardless of religion, may contribute to positive psychological adjustment. More research is needed to determine the reliability of this finding. PROSPERO registry CRD42018088803.

Group Differences Between Countries and Between Languages in Pain-Related Beliefs, Coping, and Catastrophizing in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review

“…Variables such as ethnicity, gender, nationality, and language group are commonly used as proxy measures of culture in research studies because these variables are thought to reflect cultural differences [ 13 , 31–33 ]. Consistent with this, previous systematic reviews related to culture have studied racial and ethnic differences [ 19 , 34 ] and religiosity and spirituality [ 35 ].…”

COPAHS Study: protocol of a randomised experimental study comparing the effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and spiritual practices on experimental pain in healthy adults

“…3 15 16 Pain is influenced by a number of biological (eg, physiological aetiology, severity of physical damage), psychological (eg, pain-related beliefs and pain coping responses), social (eg, social support) and spiritual/religious (eg, meaning in life, religiosity) factors. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Not surprisingly, multidisciplinary treatment programmes that address the multifaceted nature of pain, including its psychosocial dimensions, are more effective than unimodal treatments that focus only on biomedical factors. [26][27][28] Given this evidence, multidisciplinary treatments that include instruction and encouragement in the use of psychological, social and spiritual coping may be useful.…”

“…Recent research on the role that spirituality (the extent to which an individual searches for meaning and purpose in life, as well as feelings of transcendence and of being connected to a higher power) 20 and religiosity (the degree of an individual's engagement with the belief system and with individual and group practices of a given religion) 20 -have on pain experience suggests that at least some individuals spontaneously engage in spiritual and religious practices when experiencing pain as a way to cope. [47][48][49] Moreover, higher levels of spirituality and religiosity (S/R) are hypothesised to have a buffering effect against stressors.…”

‘Maybe we are losing sight of the human dimension’ – physicians’ approaches to existential, spiritual, and religious needs among patients with chronic pain or multiple sclerosis. A qualitative interview-study

“…In relation to patients with chronic pain or multiple sclerosis, overall, research show a positive association between existential, spiritual, and religious resources and psychosocial wellbeing. A recent review of 20 studies found an association between spirituality and religiosity, and psychological function in patients with chronic pain, suggesting that viewing one-self as spiritual may be a positive resource for psychological adjustment (Ferreira-Valente et al, 2019 ). However, the studies evidence methodological homogeneity and with cross-sectional designs, the review cannot draw any causal interferences (Ferreira-Valente et al, 2019 ).…”

“…A recent review of 20 studies found an association between spirituality and religiosity, and psychological function in patients with chronic pain, suggesting that viewing one-self as spiritual may be a positive resource for psychological adjustment (Ferreira-Valente et al, 2019 ). However, the studies evidence methodological homogeneity and with cross-sectional designs, the review cannot draw any causal interferences (Ferreira-Valente et al, 2019 ). Many patients with multiple sclerosis seem to reappraise their illness in a positive way (Pakenham, 2008 ), which has been associated with faith (Büssing et al, 2013 ) and with a reduction in symptom-severity of depression and in pain interference (Nsamenang, Hirsch, Topciu, Goodman, & Duberstein, 2016 ).…”