A biopsychosocial explanation of an experimental pain outcome

There is a growing body of literature that lends support to the health-promoting effects of an optimistic personality disposition, observed across various physical and psychological dimensions. As a result of these studies, it has been posited that optimism may influence the course and experience of pain; however, the inter-relations among optimism and pain outcomes have not been adequately studied. In a review of the limited number of studies previously conducted, it has been reported that optimism does indeed positively influence the course and experience of pain. However, one drawback to these preliminary lines of investigation is that the relation between optimism and pain has only been examined via bivariate analyses and has not (to date) been considered within a biopsychosocial rubric. Therefore, little is known about the potential mechanisms that might help to explain why those with greater optimism experience pain differently than their pessimistic counterparts. This study sought to build upon and extend the current body of knowledge related to optimism and the perception of pain through examination of biological and psychosocial moderators and mediators within several comprehensive biopsychosocial models.