Date of Award
Spring 5-13-2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Susan Tran, PhD
Second Advisor
Joanna Buscemi, PhD
Abstract
Twelve percent of emerging adults (EA) experience chronic pain. Having one’s pain dismissed by others, or pain dismissal, is not uncommon and is isolating. There is already an established relationship between pain, anxiety, and depression; furthermore, pain dismissal exacerbates anxiety, depression, and substance-use coping. The current study explores pain dismissal’s relationship to anxiety, depression, and coping with substances. Undergraduate students with chronic pain (N = 227, age M = 19.58, SD = 1.42, range = 18-25) at a Midwestern university reported if they had pain, if their pain had been dismissed, as well as symptoms of anxiety, depression, and substance-use coping. Most participants identified as women (85.9%) and non-white (n = 131, 57.7%). EA that experienced pain dismissal (n = 98) had higher anxiety symptoms (t(225) = 2.12; p = .035) and higher depression symptoms compared to those that did not experience dismissal (t(225) = 2.65; p = .009). EA that experienced pain dismissal did not differ in their use of substances to cope compared to those that did not experience dismissal (t(225) = .94; p = .347). However, depression mediating the relationship between pain dismissal and substance-use coping was marginally significant; the model in which both pain dismissal and depression were predictors predicted 2.0% of the variance in substance-use coping (R² = .020, F(2, 224) = 2.79, p = .06). The indirect effect of pain dismissal on substance-use coping through depression was estimated to be -0.09 (95% CI [-0.22, 0.00]). Reducing instances of pain dismissal and increasing validation of symptoms may decrease anxiety and depression in EA with chronic pain. Future research should explore whether psychosocial interventions (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy or support groups) may reduce negative consequences of pain dismissal.
Recommended Citation
Fenelon, Elizabeth Felice, "Pain Dismissal, Anxiety, Depression, and Substance-use Coping in Emerging Adults with Chronic Pain" (2025). College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations. 584.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/csh_etd/584
SLP Collection
no