| This study examines individual attitudes toward Mind-Body Connectivity (MBC) and psychosocial support during the pain experience using a set of psychometrically-tested self-report measures. A multi-construct MBC survey was designed using an iterative process, yielding ten factors tapping into awareness, satisfaction, and experience with mind-body therapies for pain, and the correlated of perceived support and stigma associated with the pursuit of these therapies. Reliability estimates of factor-defined scales ranged from .731 to .975. These empirically-supported attitude measures fill a gap in the literature and were used next to test hypotheses regarding group differences between sufferers of active, persistent, and longer-term pain experiences, and those who have not had such significant pain experiences. The study sample was comprised of 463 adult respondents, residing in North America, who voluntarily participated in the online web-based survey. Participants were selected using purposive sampling methods targeting both the general population as well as a sub-population of persons with chronic pain experience. Results indicated that there were significant group differences in self-reported attitudes towards mind-body interventions and perceived social support between people who report more active, persistent or longer-term pain and people who have experienced temporary pain or pain that has been resolved. Respondents with more active, more persistent, or longer-term pain tended to (1) endorse higher levels of experience and satisfaction with mind-body therapies for pain; (2) perceive greater stigma towards psychosomatics (mind-body connectivity); (3) expect less support from their friends, family, and workplace colleagues for their pursuit of mind-body therapies for pain management; and (4) expect that use of mind-body therapies for pain would invalidate their pain experience in the eyes of friends, family, and workplace colleagues. Findings can be used for further research, providing clinical care, and for program development in the fields of clinical health psychology and pain management. In addition to research applications, the MBC survey instrument could also be used for assessing individual patients' needs during clinical interventions. |
