The influence of preferred coping style and cognitive strategy on laboratory-induced pain

Objective: To evaluate the effects of matching an individual's coping style (low, mixed, or high monitoring) to an appropriate cognitive strategy (distraction or sensation monitoring) to improve pain management. Design: This study used a split-plot factorial design in a laboratory setting. Main Outcome Measures: Main outcomes were pain threshold, pain tolerance, pain intensity, pain affect, and anxiety. Results: The results of the 2 X 3 X 3 (Experimental Condition X Coping Style X Trial) analysis of variance (ANOVA) interaction were significant for pain threshold scores, F(4, 178) = 2.95, p <.01. Low monitors in the matched distraction trial had higher pain threshold scores than during baseline, t(15) = -2.68, p =.017, and the mismatched sensation monitoring trial, t(15) = 2.80, p =.014. High monitors' pain threshold scores were higher than baseline only during the matched sensation monitoring trial, t(27) = -2.75, p =.010. The results of the 2 X 3 X 3 ANOVA interaction were not significant for pain tolerance scores; however, when the mixed monitors were excluded, the 3-way interaction was significant, F(2, 124) = 3.48, p <.05. The results were nonsignificant for pain intensity, pain affect, and anxiety. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that matching coping style to the appropriate cognitive strategy is important for improving pain threshold and pain tolerance; however, matching did not reduce pain intensity, pain affect, or anxiety. Future studies should explore the explanation for differential responses of high and low monitors and should test these hypotheses in a clinical setting.