Pain intensity and self‐perceived burden mediate the relationship between family functioning and pain catastrophizing in patients with neuropathic pain

Abstract

This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between family functioning, pain intensity, self‐perceived burden, and pain catastrophizing. Moreover, we also wanted to explore the multiple mediating roles of pain intensity and self‐perceived burden. From October 2022 to March 2023, 252 Chinese people with neuropathic pain completed face‐to‐face questionnaires to assess family functioning, pain intensity, self‐perceived burden, and pain catastrophizing. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and a structural equation model. The results showed better family functioning was significantly associated with more intense pain, less self‐perceived burden, and less pain catastrophizing. Mediation analysis showed that family functioning could indirectly affect pain catastrophizing through pain intensity and self‐perceived burden in addition to a direct effect on pain catastrophizing. Moreover, the mediating variable of pain intensity played a masking role. These findings suggest that good family functioning can effectively reduce the self‐perceived burden and pain catastrophizing in patients with neuropathic pain. However, family functioning cannot show its maximum effectiveness, and it may be necessary to construct a model of family functioning suitable for patients with neuropathic pain in the future.