Influences of Attachment Style and Partner Presence on the Momentary Association of Pain and Negative Affect in Osteoarthritis

Objective. This research examines the role of adult attachment style and momentary companionship in the affective and pain experiences of older adults living with chronic pain. Method. As part of a larger study examining everyday quality of life with physician-diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, 327 adults over age of 48 completed global measure of physical and psychological functioning, followed by 7 days of an experience sampling method (ESM) procedure comprising four telephone calls per day. Analyses were conducted using multiple linear regression and multilevel modeling (MLM). Results. Single participants reported significantly more pain, depression, pain catastrophizing, and health conditions than their married counterparts. Attachment anxiety was found to be a significant predictor of global depression, anxiety, pain, and pain catastrophizing. Attachment avoidance was a significant predictor of global depression and anxiety. At the call level, both attachment anxiety and avoidance were significant predictors of negative affect, but not momentary pain. Multilevel analyses failed to establish any significant effect of interpersonal presence (alone vs. with others) on the momentary pain-affect relationship. Further analysis yielded unique moderating effects of family and coworkers on the association between pain and negative affect. Stage-wise MLM failed to yield significant differences in the momentary pain-affect association based on partner presence. Both attachment anxiety and avoidance, however, were found to interact with momentary pain in predicting negative affect. Conclusion. Findings suggest that dimensions of attachment may predict individual differences in the lived experience of osteoarthritis. Implications for future research and clinical intervention are discussed.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Alabama Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Cheesman, Katherine Lynn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Parmelee, Patricia A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gunn, Heather E.
• Hilgeman, Michelle M.
• Parker, Jeffrey G.
• Totenhagen, Casey J.

• attachment style
• chronic pain
• experience sampling
• interpersonal
• osteoarthritis
• partner

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US, English

Dc Identifier Other

1041227

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ir.ua.edu:123456789/14352