Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain

Individuals with “insecure” adult attachment styles have been shown to experience more pain than people with secure attachment, though results of previous studies have been inconsistent. We performed a cross-sectional study on a large population-based sample to investigate whether, compared to pain...

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Autores principales: Davies, K.A., Macfarlane, G.J., McBeth, J., Morriss, R., Dickens, C.
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2009
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806947/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19345016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2009.02.013
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author Davies, K.A.
Macfarlane, G.J.
McBeth, J.
Morriss, R.
Dickens, C.
author_facet Davies, K.A.
Macfarlane, G.J.
McBeth, J.
Morriss, R.
Dickens, C.
author_sort Davies, K.A.
collection PubMed
description Individuals with “insecure” adult attachment styles have been shown to experience more pain than people with secure attachment, though results of previous studies have been inconsistent. We performed a cross-sectional study on a large population-based sample to investigate whether, compared to pain free individuals, subjects with chronic widespread pain were more likely to report insecure adult attachment style. Subjects in a population-based cross-sectional study completed a self-rated assessment of adult attachment style. Attachment style was categorised as secure (i.e., normal attachment style); or preoccupied, dismissing or fearful (insecure attachment styles). Subjects completed a pain questionnaire from which three groups were identified: pain free; chronic widespread pain; and other pain. Subjects rated their pain intensity and pain-related disability on an 11 point Likert scale. Subjects (2509) returned a completed questionnaire (median age 49.9 years (IQR 41.2–50.0); 59.2% female). Subjects with CWP were more likely to report a preoccupied (RRR 2.6; 95%CI 1.8–3.7), dismissing (RRR 1.9; 95%CI 1.2–3.1) or fearful attachment style (RRR 1.4; 95%CI 1.1–1.8) than those free of pain. Among CWP subjects, insecure attachment style was associated with number of pain sites (Dismissing: RRR 2.8; 95%CI 1.2–2.3, Preoccupied: RRR = 1.8, 95%CI 0.98–3.5) and degree of pain-related disability (Preoccupied: RRR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.0–4.1), but not pain intensity. These findings suggest that treatment strategies based on knowledge of attachment style, possibly using support and education, may alleviate distress and disability in people at risk of, or affected by, chronic widespread pain.
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spelling pubmed-28069472010-01-29 Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain Davies, K.A. Macfarlane, G.J. McBeth, J. Morriss, R. Dickens, C. Pain Article Individuals with “insecure” adult attachment styles have been shown to experience more pain than people with secure attachment, though results of previous studies have been inconsistent. We performed a cross-sectional study on a large population-based sample to investigate whether, compared to pain free individuals, subjects with chronic widespread pain were more likely to report insecure adult attachment style. Subjects in a population-based cross-sectional study completed a self-rated assessment of adult attachment style. Attachment style was categorised as secure (i.e., normal attachment style); or preoccupied, dismissing or fearful (insecure attachment styles). Subjects completed a pain questionnaire from which three groups were identified: pain free; chronic widespread pain; and other pain. Subjects rated their pain intensity and pain-related disability on an 11 point Likert scale. Subjects (2509) returned a completed questionnaire (median age 49.9 years (IQR 41.2–50.0); 59.2% female). Subjects with CWP were more likely to report a preoccupied (RRR 2.6; 95%CI 1.8–3.7), dismissing (RRR 1.9; 95%CI 1.2–3.1) or fearful attachment style (RRR 1.4; 95%CI 1.1–1.8) than those free of pain. Among CWP subjects, insecure attachment style was associated with number of pain sites (Dismissing: RRR 2.8; 95%CI 1.2–2.3, Preoccupied: RRR = 1.8, 95%CI 0.98–3.5) and degree of pain-related disability (Preoccupied: RRR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.0–4.1), but not pain intensity. These findings suggest that treatment strategies based on knowledge of attachment style, possibly using support and education, may alleviate distress and disability in people at risk of, or affected by, chronic widespread pain. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2009-06 /pmc/articles/PMC2806947/ /pubmed/19345016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2009.02.013 Text en © 2009 Elsevier B.V. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ Open Access under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/) license
spellingShingle Article
Davies, K.A.
Macfarlane, G.J.
McBeth, J.
Morriss, R.
Dickens, C.
Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
title Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
title_full Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
title_fullStr Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
title_full_unstemmed Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
title_short Insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
title_sort insecure attachment style is associated with chronic widespread pain
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806947/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19345016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2009.02.013
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