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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 3/2008

01-12-2008 | Original Article

Dispositional Optimism and Thoughts of Well-Being Determine Sensitivity to an Experimental Pain Task

Authors: Andrew L. Geers, Ph.D., Justin A. Wellman, M.A., Suzanne G. Helfer, Ph.D., Stephanie L. Fowler, B.S., Christopher R. France, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2008

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Abstract

Background

Prior studies with patient samples have found dispositional optimism to be associated with less pain.

Purpose

We examined the relationship between optimism and experimental pain. It was hypothesized that optimists generally cope with a painful stimulus by mentally disengaging from the pain. However, if optimists are prompted to think about health and well-being prior to the painful event, they are more responsive to the pain.

Methods

Optimists and pessimists were primed with words related to health or with neutral words prior to the cold pressor task. Pain, distress, and cardiovascular reactivity to the cold pressor task were assessed.

Results

Dispositional optimism was associated with lower pain sensitivity, distress, and cardiovascular reactivity in the neutral prime condition. In the health prime condition, optimists and pessimists did not differ on any of the dependent measures.

Conclusions

Dispositional optimism is associated with reduced pain for healthy adults encountering a brief pain stimulus. This relationship is eliminated, however, when individuals are primed with thoughts of health and well-being. The results are interpreted as evidence for the use of differential coping strategies by optimists in response to pain.
Footnotes
1
Before the cold pressor task, we also attempted to manipulate expectations. Specifically, half of the participants had a cream applied to their hand and were told that the cream would help to reduce pain. This manipulation did not significantly affect pain ratings, and it did not alter the results presented here. Therefore, we collapsed across this variable in our analyses.
 
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Metadata
Title
Dispositional Optimism and Thoughts of Well-Being Determine Sensitivity to an Experimental Pain Task
Authors
Andrew L. Geers, Ph.D.
Justin A. Wellman, M.A.
Suzanne G. Helfer, Ph.D.
Stephanie L. Fowler, B.S.
Christopher R. France, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9073-4

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