Self-efficacy beliefs mediate the association between pain intensity and pain interference in acute/subacute whiplash-associated disorders

Yolanda Pedrero-Martin, Deborah Falla, Javier Martinez-Calderon, Bernard X W Liew, Marco Scutari, Alejandro Luque-Suarez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether a set of pre-accident demographic, accident-related, post-accident treatment and psychosocial factors assessed in people with acute/subacute whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) mediate the association between pain intensity and: (1) pain interference and (2) expectations of recovery, using Bayesian networks (BNs) analyses. This study also explored the potential mediating pathways (if any) between different psychosocial factors.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 173 participants with acute/subacute WAD. Pain intensity, pain interference, pessimism, expectations of recovery, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy beliefs were assessed. BN analyses were conducted to analyse the mediating effects of psychological factors on the association between pain intensity and pain-related outcomes.

RESULTS: The results revealed that self-efficacy beliefs partially mediated the association between pain intensity and pain interference. Kinesiophobia partially mediated the association between self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing. Psychological factors did not mediate the association between pain intensity and expectations of recovery.

CONCLUSION: These results indicate that individuals with acute/subacute WAD may present with lesser pain interference associated with a determined pain intensity value when they show greater self-efficacy beliefs. As the cross-sectional nature of this study limits firm conclusions on the causal impact, researchers are encouraged to investigate the role that patient's self-efficacy beliefs play in the transition to chronic WAD via longitudinal study designs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1689-1698
JournalEuropean Spine Journal
Volume30
Issue number6
Early online date27 Jan 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 27 Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Dr. Javier Martinez-Calderon is supported by the Universidad de Malaga through a postdoctoral grant. All authors state that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • Acute
  • Neck pain
  • Observational study
  • Psychological factors
  • Whiplash

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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