The effects of catastrophizing and labeling on pain tolerance, sensation, and affect

The present study examined the effects of labeling on pain tolerance, sensation, and affect for individuals who are high or low pain catastrophizers, as measured through the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Pasticipants completed the PCS and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 labeling conditions: A maximizing, a minimizing, and a neutral label condition. All participants then took part in a cold-pressor test. The cold-pressor measure of pain tolerance, as well as visual analog scales of sensory and affective ratings of pain, provided the dependent measures. Participants also completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Somatic Amplification Questionnaire (SAQ). Results indicated that high pain catastrophizers have significantly reduced pain tolerance, increased pain sensations, and increased pain unpleasantness compared with low pain catastrophizers. In addition, significant correlations were found between the dependent measures. Main effects for labeling, and interaction effects between pain catastrophizing and labeling, were not supported.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1999

Author dc:creator

• Pedraza, Otto

Contributors dc:contributor

• Marta Meana

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/979

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1978