Association between Pain Intensity, Pain Belief, and Coping Strategies in Older Adults

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relation between pain, pain belief, and coping strategies and the interaction effect of pain belief and coping stretegies on pain intensity in older adults living in Denizli. 601 older adults (68.32 +/- 8.28 years) with good cognitive function participated in current study. Pain intensity, pain beliefs and coping strategies were assessed with Geriartric Pain Measure (GPM), Pain Beliefs Scale (PBS) and Pain Coping Inventory (PCI), respectively. Mean pain intensity of older adults was 53.6 +/- 21 (0-99.96). There was a statistically significant difference in passive coping strategies between older adults with mild, moderate, and severe pain (p < .001). As organic pain belief and active coping strategies increase, the pain intensity decreases in older adults living in Denizli.