The Mediating Effects of Social Support on the Relationship between Uncertainty and Quality of Life among Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of social support on the relationship between uncertainty and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods: From 1 July 2019 to 25 March 2020, data were collected using a structured questionnaire from inpatients and outpatients > 20 years of age with chronic LBP lasting > 3 months. Inpatients included patients waiting for surgery and those recovering after surgery. The exclusion criteria were cancer and other serious pathological diseases. The relationships between uncertainty, social support, and QOL were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results: Uncertainty, the independent variable, exerted a significant effect on social support, the mediator (B = 0.33, p < 0.001). In addition, both uncertainty (B = 0.37, p < 0.001) and social support (B = 0.45, p < 0.001) exerted statistically significant effects on QOL, the dependent variable. Conclusions: Disease-related uncertainty can reduce QOL in patients with chronic LBP, and this relationship is mediated by the level of social support. To develop strategies for strengthening social support from healthcare providers, family, and friends, future studies should examine the experiences of patients with chronic LBP from various perspectives, including pain intensity and duration.

Assessing the Predictive Power of Frailty and Life-Space Mobility on Patient-Reported Outcomes of Disability in Older Adults with Low Back Pain

“…Individuals with chronic pain had a 1.5-times higher risk of developing functional disability compared with those without chronic pain [ 50 ]. Furthermore, uncertainty regarding environmental factors, such as in the COVID-19 pandemic, may have involved further restrictions on life-space mobility among older adults [ 51 ] and may impact social network and support associated with uncertainty and quality of life among patients with chronic low back pain [ 52 ]. As mentioned above, reduced life-space mobility among older adults is associated with a decrease in muscle strength, independent mobility, and physical performance [ 53 , 54 ], resulting in an increased risk of developing physical limitations or disability in the future [ 46 ].…”