Files
Abstract
A strong sense of purpose in life (PIL) is considered an integral component of psychological well-being and serves as an essential resilience factor for people living with chronic pain. The utility of PIL for chronic pain patients is supported in the literature but the underlying mechanism(s) of action is not well understood. Health behavior engagement, adaptive coping strategy selection, and reduced mental health problems are suspected mediators based on the literature. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the proposed path model linking PIL and chronic pain. Adults (N = 104) with chronic pain conditions completed 7 measures. The proposed model was tested employing path analysis with 2000 resample bootstrap at 95% CI’s which yielded a poor structural model fit (X2 = 74.54, df = 11, X2/df = 6.78, CFI = 0.80, IFI = 0.82, RMSEA = 0.24, and PClose > .001). Model trimming was subsequently utilized for systematic removal of insignificant associations, leaving PIL, problem-focused coping, depressive symptoms, and pain interference in the final model. The final model, which displayed an good model fit (X2 = 0.31, df = 1, X2/df = 0.31, CFI = 1, IFI = 1.01, RMSEA < 0.001, PClose = 0.62.) revealed a significant positive effect of PIL on problem-focused coping (B = 0.48 [0.29 to 0.62], p < .001) and significant negative effect on depressive symptoms (B = -0.46 [-0.60 to -0.30], p < .001). Furthermore, the indirect effect of PIL on pain interference via depressive symptoms was significant (CI = -0.38 to -0.08, p = .002). PIL may play an important role in limiting pain interference, perhaps by buffering depression. Such findings could have implications for the conceptualization and treatment of chronic pain sufferers.