Pain Intensity Moderates the Relationship Between Age and Pain Interference in Chronic Orofacial Pain Patients

Abstract

Background/Study Context Chronic pain is associated with increased interference in daily functioning that becomes more pronounced as pain intensity increases. Based on previous research showing that older adults maintain well-being in the face of pain as well as or better than their younger counterparts, the current study examined the interaction of age and pain intensity on interference in a sample of chronic orofacial pain patients. Methods Data were obtained from the records of 508 chronic orofacial pain patients being seen for an initial evaluation from 2008 to 2012. Collected data included age (range: 18–78) and self-reported measures of pain intensity and pain interference. Bivariate correlations and regression models were used to assess for statistical interactions. Results Regression analyses revealed that pain intensity positively predicted pain interference (R2 = .35, B = 10.40, SE = 0.62, t(507) = 16.70, p < .001). A significant interaction supported the primary hypothesis that aging was associated with reduced interference at high levels of pain intensity (ΔR2 = .01, B = −1.31, SE = 0.63, t(505) = −2.90, p = .04). Conclusion At high levels of pain intensity, interference decreased with age, although the age by pain intensity interaction effect was small. This evidence converges with aging theories, including socioemotional selectivity theory, which posits that as people age, they become more motivated to maximize positive emotions and minimize negative ones. The results highlight the importance of studying the mechanisms older adults use to successfully cope with pain.

Prevalence of different pain categories based on pain spreading on the bodies of older adults in Sweden: a descriptive-level and multilevel association with demographics, comorbidities, medications, and certain lifestyle factors (PainS65+)

“…However, the relationship between age and pain remains controversial; some studies demonstrate that pain prevalence decreases with age, while others support an opposing association 10,12,34. Some others, though, suggest that there is no concrete association between pain and age 1,39. Furthermore, several studies indicate that pain, especially WSP, is associated with increased prevalence of psychological comorbidities (e.g., depression and anxiety) as well as somatic conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disorders [CVDs], hypertension, and diabetes) 33,40–42.…”

All Fatigue is Not Created Equal

“…These correlations suggest that dealing with chronic pain requires energy. Routine daily activities like getting out of bed, cleaning the house, or scheduling social activities may feel burdensome when one is in pain [27-28], and these tasks may become more fatiguing as pain becomes more intense [21]. Despite the interrelationships between fatigue and pain intensity, this study adds to the literature by showing that they each uniquely predict pain interference.…”

“…Higher scores represented higher pain interference. The WHYMPI pain interference scale has been well-validated in chronic pain samples [5, 12, 13, 19, 21]. The dataset used for the current study contained only scale scores and not individual items; as such, Cronbach’s alpha could not be computed.…”

Satisfaction with Life in Orofacial Pain Disorders: Associations and Theoretical Implications

“…23 It was specifically designed for use in chronic pain populations and has been validated for use in patients with orofacial pain disorders. 24–26 The WHYMPI has 52 items and assesses functioning across 12 domains, with higher scores representing a higher level of the corresponding construct. In the current study, only the interference, affective distress, and social support subscales of the WHYMPI were used.…”