Social influence and pain response in women and men

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of social influence on responses to acute pain in women and men in a randomized experimental design. Sixty-eight undergraduates (32 women; 36 men) were randomly assigned to perform a cold pressor task either alone or in the presence of a same-sex friend. Expressions of pain were assessed with the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Overall social support was measured using the Krause social support assessment scale. The presence of a same-sex friend significantly increased pain reports in women, but not in men. Persons who reported high levels of social support on the Krause scale also reported greater cold pressor pain. Results suggest that the presence of a friend can increase pain report to an acute laboratory pain stimulus in women. These findings are consistent with models of social reinforcement in chronic pain syndromes.

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“…Other studies have shown that specific types of social support are helpful for specific stress reduction strategies (Olstad, Sexton, & Søgaard, in 2001;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008), and sufficient quantities of social support can reduce the effect of stress (Kinicki & McKee, 1996;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). In addition, social support can improve a person's mental health in general (LaRocco, House, & French, 1980;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008).…”

“…Social support can take the form of informative support, emotional support and/ or instrumental support (McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). Informative support includes advice, recommendations, and problem solving techniques; emotional support includes assistance in times of stress and difficulty, increasing self-esteem and motivation; and instrumental support includes physical or tactile support, such as specific forms of physical assistance (Cutrona & Russell, 1990;Warwick, Joseph Cordl, & Ashworth, 2004).…”

“…The following dimensions of social support have been highlighted: received and perceived social support (Barrera, 1986;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). Received social support includes both actual physical and spiritual support which helps people to become more motivated, and to adapt more easily within various stressful situations (Nurullah, 2012).…”

“…In addition, social support can improve a person's mental health in general (LaRocco, House, & French, 1980;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). Evaluation of social support according to gender has shown that women are looking for social support more often than are men (Stokes & Wilson, 1984;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). It is often easier for women to recieve social support because they are more likely to be trusting of others, while men strive to experience themselves as more autonomous, and therefore find it more difficult to trust others (Barbea, Cunningham, Winstead, Derlega, Gulley, & Yankeelov, 1993;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008).…”

“…Evaluation of social support according to gender has shown that women are looking for social support more often than are men (Stokes & Wilson, 1984;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). It is often easier for women to recieve social support because they are more likely to be trusting of others, while men strive to experience themselves as more autonomous, and therefore find it more difficult to trust others (Barbea, Cunningham, Winstead, Derlega, Gulley, & Yankeelov, 1993;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008). Thus women are more likely to receive the social support which they need (Belle, 1987;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008), and they have a greater awareness of the social support which they recieve (Sarason, Sarason, Hacker, & Basham, 1985;McClelland & McCubbin, 2008).…”