Meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry and pain catastrophising as mediators between neuroticism and pain behaviour

Abstract

Background The present study explored the relationship between neuroticism, meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry, pain catastrophising, and pain behaviour. Methods A non‐clinical convenience sample of 308 participants completed the following four measures in this cross‐sectional study: Neo Five‐Factor Inventory, Meta‐Cognitions Questionnaire 30, Pain Catastrophising Scale, and the Pain Behaviour Checklist. Results A multiple‐step multiple mediator analysis was employed to test a model in which (1) positive meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry would mediate the relationship between neuroticism and pain catastrophising and (2) negative meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry would mediate the relationship between pain catastrophising and self‐reported pain behaviour. We also hypothesised that the combined effects of meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry and pain catastrophising on self‐reported pain behaviour would be independent of neuroticism. Results supported the proposed structure with pain catastrophising and meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry mediating fully the effect of neuroticism on self‐reported pain behaviour. Conclusions These findings identify, for the first time in the literature, a link between meta‐cognitive beliefs about worry and both self‐reported pain behaviour and pain catastrophising. The implications of these findings are discussed.

The relationship between negative metacognitive thoughts, pain catastrophizing and adjustment to chronic pain

“…Further, those who have more frequent catastrophic thoughts are more likely to have danger‐laden cognitions about their thoughts, as well as more distress. These findings are aligned with research showing associations between metacognitions and negative affect (Spada et al., ). They extend on these findings to show associations on the daily level and associations with psychological outcomes in individuals with chronic pain.…”

“…Current heuristic frameworks of understanding psychological and functional status in chronic pain do not include metacognition, and recent studies highlight the importance of considering cognitive processes above and beyond pain catastrophizing, including irrational processes and thought intrusion (Lohnberg and Altmaier, ; Spada et al., ; Suso‐Ribera et al., ). Given metacognitions in the context of a nontreatment study are likely to remain stable, we assessed them at baseline and conducted a moderation analysis to examine whether negative metacognitive beliefs (processes) about worry moderated the relationships of appraisals (i.e.…”

‘I call it stinkin’ thinkin’’: A qualitative analysis of metacognition in people with chronic low back pain and elevated catastrophizing

“…Recently, a correlational study provided the first evidence that these metacognitions are important aspects of PC. In a non‐clinical student sample, Spada and colleagues found that positive metacognitions mediated between neuroticism and PC, while negative metacognitions mediated between PC and self‐reported pain behaviours (Spada, Gay, Nikčević, Fernie, & Caselli, ).…”

An overview of a biopsychosocial model of epigenetics and pain catastrophizing

“…Also, these psychosocial factors play a role in changing one's genetic make-up via the influence of one's personality. In particular, PC has been associated with anxious and neurotic personalities (Kadimpati et al, 2015;Spada, Gay, Nikčevic, Fernie, & Caselli, 2016), that have been more specifically characterized by excessive worry, fear, and depression (Costa & McCrae, 1992). Also, researchers have discovered that 5-HT is coded by the gene SLC6A4, which helps with mood regulation and is linked to personality characteristics like neuroticism (Horjales-Araujo et al, 2013;Spada et al, 2016).…”