Preliminary investigation of the associations between psychological flexibility, symptoms, and daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain

Article


Yu, L., Inspector, Y. and McCracken, L. 2021. Preliminary investigation of the associations between psychological flexibility, symptoms, and daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain. British Journal of Pain. 15 (2), pp. 175-186. https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463720926559
TypeArticle
TitlePreliminary investigation of the associations between psychological flexibility, symptoms, and daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain
AuthorsYu, L., Inspector, Y. and McCracken, L.
Abstract

Objective: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, based in the psychological flexibility model, may benefit people with chronic abdominal pain. The current study preliminarily investigates associations between psychological flexibility processes and daily general, social, and emotional functioning in chronic abdominal pain. Methods: An online survey comprising measures of psychological flexibility processes and daily functioning was distributed through social media. Subjects: 89 participants with chronic abdominal pain were included in the analyses. Results: All investigated psychological flexibility processes significantly correlated with pain interference, work and social adjustment, and depression, in the expected directions (|r|=.35-.68). Only pain acceptance significantly correlated with gastrointestinal symptoms, r=-.25. After adjusting for pain in the analyses, pain acceptance remained significantly associated with all outcomes, |β|=.28 to .56, but depression. After adjusting for pain and pain acceptance, only cognitive fusion remained significantly associated with anxiety, β=-.27, and depression, β=.43. When contrasting GI-specific anxiety with psychological flexibility processes, pain acceptance was uniquely associated with pain-related interference and work and social adjustment, and cognitive fusion and committed action were uniquely associated with depression. Conclusions: Psychological flexibility processes were positively associated with daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may provide benefit for these people. Further studies with experimental designs are needed to examine the utility of ACT for people with abdominal pain.

KeywordsPsychological flexibility; acceptance and commitment therapy; chronic abdominal pain; gastrointestinal disorders; daily functioning
Research GroupApplied Health Psychology group
PublisherSage
JournalBritish Journal of Pain
ISSN2049-4637
Electronic2049-4645
Publication dates
Print03 Jun 2020
Print31 May 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited08 Mar 2021
Accepted01 May 2020
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

Yu L, Inspector Y, McCracken LM. Preliminary investigation of the associations between psychological flexibility, symptoms and daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain. British Journal of Pain. June 2020. Copyright © The British Pain Society 2020. DOI:10.1177/2049463720926559

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463720926559
Web of Science identifierWOS:000538794500001
LanguageEnglish
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