Buffer or Amplifier? Longitudinal Effects of Social Support for Functional Autonomy/Dependence on Older Adults' Chronic Pain Experiences

Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to investigate (a) the moderating role of formal social support for functional autonomy versus dependence on the relationship between pain intensity and pain-related disability among older adults with chronic pain and (b) the mediating role of pain-related se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health psychology 2017-12, Vol.36 (12), p.1195-1206
Main Authors: Matos, Marta, Bernardes, Sónia F., Goubert, Liesbet, Beyers, Wim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Autonomy
Caregivers
Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain - psychology
Disabilities
Disability
Fear
Fear & phobias
Female
Human
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Measurement
Middle Aged
Moderation
Musculoskeletal pain
Older people
Pain
Pain Measurement - methods
Personal Autonomy
Questionnaires
Self-Efficacy
Social Support
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Summary:Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to investigate (a) the moderating role of formal social support for functional autonomy versus dependence on the relationship between pain intensity and pain-related disability among older adults with chronic pain and (b) the mediating role of pain-related self-efficacy and pain-related fear in this moderation. Method: One hundred and seventy older adults (Mage = 78.0; SD = 8.7) with chronic musculoskeletal pain participated in a 3-month prospective study, with 3 measurement moments. Participants filled out the Formal Social Support for Autonomy and Dependence in Pain Inventory, the Portuguese versions of the Brief Pain Inventory, the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. Results: Using structural equation modeling, it was found that perceived promotion of autonomy, at Time 1, moderated the relationship between pain intensity (T1) and pain-related disability (T2); this moderation was fully mediated by pain-related self-efficacy (T2). Perceived promotion of dependence was not a significant moderator. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of social support for functional autonomy in buffering the impact of pain intensity on older adults' pain-related disability. Also, they clarify the role of pain-related self-efficacy in this effect. Implications for the development of intervention programs, with formal caregivers, to reduce the impact of chronic pain on older adults' healthy ageing process, are discussed.
ISSN:0278-6133
1930-7810
DOI:10.1037/hea0000512