Pain Tolerance: Differences According to Age, Sex and Race

Abstract

The nature and extent of group differences in pain tolerance according to age, sex and race were examined. The method of pain tolerance determination was mechanical pressure on the Achilles tendon, performed on 4 1 , 119 subjects as part of the Kaiser-Permanente Automated Multiphasic Screening examination. The results showed that, on the average, a) pain tolerance decreases with age; b) men tolerate more pain than women; and c) Whites tolerate more pain than Orientals, while Blacks occupy an intermediate position. When the results of this study are compared with earlier work, it appears that, with increasing age, tolerance to cutaneous pain increases and tolerance to deep pain decreases.Differences in patients' pain tolerance have been a continuing source of interest and concern to their physicians. Some individuals appear to bear severe pain with surprising equanimity, while others react to more moderate pain with apprehension and emotional turmoil.A test of pain tolerance was included in the routine multiphasic health examination of more than 40,000 subjects in the hope that the findings would be clinically useful. While the clinical value has yet to be demonstrated, rather clear-cut differences in pain tolerance according to age, sex and race were noted. These differences may reflect important cultural and biologic variability in pain reaction.

In Vivo Praying and Catastrophizing Mediate the Race Differences in Experimental Pain Sensitivity

“…There are well-documented race differences in experimental pain sensitivity, with Black individuals having a lower tolerance than White individuals for heat, cold, and ischemic pain 6,13,14,46 . Various psychosocial factors may account for these differences.…”

Pain management in severely burned adults: A test of stress inoculation

“…Pain tolerance has been found to be higher for males, whites, and younger age groups (Bobey & Davidson, 1970;Joy & Barger, 19 77;Merskey, 1973;Weisenberg, 1977;Weisenberg, Kreindler, Schachat, & Werboff, 1975;Woodrow, Friedman, Siegelaub, & Collen, 1972).…”

“…Although pain threshold and tolerance have been found to be related, it has been observed that measures of pain tolerance had greater clinical utility (Frederiksen, Lynd, & Ross, 197 8;Merksey, 1973;Rybstein-Blinchik & Zaretsky, 1979;Weisenberg, 1977;Woodrow et al, 1972).…”

“…These have included cold pressor tasks, mechanical pressure, radiant heat, and electrical stimulation (Bobey & Davidson, 1970;Dougher, 1979;Jaremko, 1978;Spanos, Radtke-Bodorik, Ferguson, & Jones, 1979;Sternback, 19 74;Sternback, Murphy, Timmermans, Greenhoot, & Akeson, 1974;Woodrow et al, 1972). In turn, measurements have primarily taken the form of intensity or duration of painful stimulation, as well as the observation of pain behaviors, dosage and frequency of analgesics, and self-report ratings of pain.…”

“…Since anxiety has been associated with the experience of pain, measures of anxiety have also been used (Dougher, 1979;Jaremko, 1978;Merskey, 1973;Spanos et al, 1979;Sternback, 1974;Sternback et al, 1974;Stone et al, 1977;Weisenberg, 1977;Weisenberg et al, 1975). It has been noted that the issue of whether experimental pain could be equated with clinical pain has not been resolved (Weisenberg, 1977;Woodrow et al, 1972).…”