Journal article
Invalidation of chronic pain: A thematic analysis of pain narratives
Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol.43(6), pp.861-869
2021
Abstract
Purpose: Many people with chronic pain report feeling disbelieved or disparaged by others regarding their pain symptoms. Given the widely documented relationship between stress and pain, the importance of identifying psychosocial stressors such as pain-invalidation is apparent. This study was designed to identify and illustrate using first-person narratives, the effects of pain-invalidation by the self, family, friends, and healthcare professionals, toward individuals with chronic pain.
Method: A systematic search of five databases was performed using a search strategy consisting of terms related to pain-invalidation. A review of 431 peer-reviewed journal articles, containing narratives from a pool of over 7770 study participants with a wide range of pain conditions, was conducted, followed by a thematic analysis to establish themes of invalidation experienced by those with chronic pain.
Findings: Five major pain-invalidation themes were revealed: Not being believed, lack of compassion, lack of pain awareness/understanding, feeling stigmatized, and critical self-judgement. Themes additional to pain-invalidation included: Threats to Self-Image, Loss of Identity, and Isolation.
Conclusion: Themes were largely interrelated and, together, build a picture of how levels of perceived social unacceptability of pain symptoms can impact on the emotional state and self-image of those with chronic pain. As such, pain-invalidation may potentially impede help-seeking or the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
Details
- Title
- Invalidation of chronic pain: A thematic analysis of pain narratives
- Authors/Creators
- M. Nicola (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityH. Correia (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityG. Ditchburn (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityP. Drummond (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol.43(6), pp.861-869
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Identifiers
- 991005544107207891
- Copyright
- © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.129 Back pain
- 1.129.98 Low Back Pain
- Web Of Science research areas
- Rehabilitation
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general