Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional: A cross-sectional study of positive psychology variables in chronic back pain

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dc.contributor.authorDillane, Marianne
dc.contributor.authorMurphy, Mike
dc.contributor.authorO'Sullivan, David
dc.contributor.authorDi Blasi, Zelda
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-05T15:50:03Z
dc.date.available2026-08-05T15:50:03Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-01
dc.description© 2021, National Wellbeing Service Ltd.
dc.description.abstractBackground: Chronic back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and anxiety, are common in those with chronic pain. Positive Psychology Variables (PPVs) including mindfulness, gratitude, pain self-efficacy and self-compassion have variously been found to be associated with the experience of pain itself, and with mental health in those with pain. Aims: The current study sought to assess the relationships of these variables to depression and satisfaction with life in people with chronic back pain. Method: This was an online cross-sectional survey with data from 211 adults with chronic back pain living in Ireland and the UK. Results: Controlling for demographic variables, personality, and level of pain, the four PPVs collectively explained 25.2% of variance in satisfaction with life scores, and 8.8% in depression scores. Gratitude was the strongest unique predictor. Discussion: Dispositional or trait gratitude was found to be an important predictor of satisfaction with life and in depression in people with chronic back pain. Conclusion: Positive psychology variables play an important role in pain-related outcomes. Future research should evaluate the role of gratitude interventions among people with chronic back pain.en
dc.format.extent14
dc.format.extent1094871
dc.identifier.articleid16
dc.identifier.authororcidDillane, Marianne
dc.identifier.authororcidMurphy, Mike§0000-0002-8379-3813
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Sullivan, David
dc.identifier.authororcidDi Blasi, Zelda§0000-0001-8950-4958
dc.identifier.citationDillane, M, Murphy, M, O'Sullivan, D & Di Blasi, Z 2021, 'Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional: A cross-sectional study of positive psychology variables in chronic back pain', European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, vol. 5, no. 16, 16, pp. 1-14.
dc.identifier.endpage14
dc.identifier.issn2397-7116
dc.identifier.issued16
dc.identifier.journaltitleEuropean Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-8950-4958/work/222884103
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-8379-3813/work/222884323
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/19105
dc.identifier.volume5
dc.language.isoeng
dc.subjectChronic pain
dc.subject[AppliedPsychology]
dc.subjectBack pain
dc.subjectWellbeing
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectGratitude
dc.subjectMindfulness
dc.subjectPositive psychology
dc.subjectSelf-efficacy
dc.subjectSelf-compassion
dc.titlePain is inevitable, but suffering is optional: A cross-sectional study of positive psychology variables in chronic back painen
dc.typeArticle (Peer reviewed)
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