Using Digital Art and Attachment Priming in a Web-Based Serious Game to Reduce Pain and Social Disconnection in Individuals With Chronic Pain and Loneliness: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract BackgroundArts engagement using virtual reality and serious games represent promising nonpharmacological self-management treatment approaches to chronic pain. This study is the first randomized controlled trial to explore the impact of a web-based serious game that simulated a visit to an art museum on pain and social disconnection among individuals living with chronic pain and loneliness. ObjectiveThis study aimed to test the joint and separate effects of exposure to digital art and attachment figure priming on pain and social disconnection among individuals living with chronic pain and loneliness. MethodsThis randomized controlled trial used a 2 (digital artwork present and absent) × 2 (secure attachment and avoidant attachment prime) repeated measures factorial web-based experimental design with a hanging control condition. Mediation and moderation analyses examined how feelings about the social world triggered by the artwork and frequency of museum visits impacted the effects of the interventions on pain and social disconnection. ResultsThe results are based on 308 participants. Mean age of the participants was 42.78 (SD 13.11; range 18-76) years, and 60.2% (n=186) were women. Posttest pain was lower than pretest pain for the artwork present (PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP=PB−B ConclusionsRelative to a control group, visiting a web-based art museum reliably decreased pain and social disconnection among individuals living with chronic pain and loneliness. Engaging with digital artwork that triggers positive feelings about the social world may mitigate the burden of chronic pain.