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This study explores pain among female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with disabilities. Women with disabilities are subject to higher rates of IPV than nondisabled women, and experience health problems related to abuse, including chronic pain. Resident records (N = 114) from a disability-focused domestic violence shelter were reviewed to examine relationships between demographic characteristics, histories of abuse, and pain characteristics including pain severity rating, pain's impact on daily functioning, and cause of pain. Results suggest that pain impacts the daily functioning of IPV survivors with disabilities. Close to 60% had a physical disability and almost half had a psychiatric diagnosis; residents were racially and ethnically diverse, with 41% identifying as Black and 40% Latinx. Residents, on average, rated their pain severity close to 5 (on a 0-10 scale; SD = 2.71), with half indicating that pain affecting their activities of daily living (50.0%). Residents reporting difficulty participating in life roles had significantly higher pain ratings than those who did not, as did those who reported that pain affected their daily functioning. The type of abuse experienced may also influence pain severity, and disability type is related to how pain impacts daily functioning. The study's findings underscore the need for trauma-sensitive approaches to pain management for IPV survivors with disabilities. Given the complex interrelationships between pain severity, physical and mental health, and abuse, an interdisciplinary approach to working with IPV survivors with disabilities is warranted., Author(s): Michelle S. Ballan [sup.1] , Molly Freyer [sup.1] , Meghan Romanelli [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.36425.36, 0000 0001 2216 9681, Stony Brook School of Social Welfare, Stony Brook University [...]

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which the gender differences in response to the cold pressor test (CPT) are mediated by self-efficacy beliefs. One hundred twelve college undergraduates (69 women and 43 men) engaged in CPT and completed self-report measures of demographic information, physical self-efficacy (i.e., expectations about one's overall physical capabilities), and task-specific self-efficacy (i.e., beliefs about one's ability to cope successfully with the upcoming CPT). In addition, participants provided subjective ratings of pain intensity every 30 s during CPT and were evaluated for tolerance during CPT (up to 4 mm). Consistent with past research, men reported lower average subjective ratings of pain intensity and showed higher tolerance for CPT. Path analyses indicated that associations between gender and pain perception were fully mediated by self-efficacy beliefs. Men reported greater physical self-efficacy and task-specific self-efficacy than women did. In turn, higher tas k-specific self-efficacy ratings predicted increases in tolerance for pain and lower ratings of average pain intensity. Findings indicate that self-efficacy beliefs are one factor that accounts for gender differences in responses to painful stimulation. Future researchers should evaluate conditions under which heightened self-efficacy may be beneficial and harmful, and they should employ experimental designs that incorporate opportunities for use of both communal-interpersonal and individualistic coping strategies in light of possible gender differences in preferred approaches to coping with pain. KEY WORDS: gender; self-efficacy; pain perception.

Byline: David B. Resnik (1), Marsha Rehm (2) Keywords: cultural aspects; medicine; pain; philosophy; science; undertreatment Abstract: This essay provides an explanation and interpretation of the under treatment of pain by discussing some of the scientific, clinical, cultural, and philosophical aspects of this problem. One reason why pain continues to be a problem for medicine is that pain does not conform to the scientific approach to health and disease, a philosophy adopted by most health care professionals. Pain does not fit this philosophical perspective because (1) pain is subjective, not objective (2) the causal basis of pain is often poorly understood (3) pain is often regarded as a 'mere' symptom, not as a disease (4) there often are no 'magic bullets' for pain (5) pain does not fit the expert knowledge model. In order for health care professionals to do a better job of treating pain, some changes need to occur in medical philosophy,education, and practice. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Medical Humanities, Brody School of Medicine, 2S-17 Brody Building, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858-4354, USA (2) Oncology Patient Care Facilitator, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, NC Article History: Registration Date: 08/10/2004 Article note: This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.