Culture and pain: a Mesoamerican perspective

Abstract

Culture has been identified as a factor that influences a person's reaction to and expression of pain. Research in the area of pain and culture has not established a clear link between cultural meanings and attitudes associated with pain and pain behaviors. The purpose of this ethnohistoric study was to explore the beliefs related to the experience of pain within ancient Mesoamerica. The six themes that emerged from this study represent efforts related to the discovery of the epistemics of cultural meanings of pain in contemporary Mesoamerican cultures, specifically Mexican-Americans. These findings serve as a benchmark from which to understand Mexican-American meanings, expressions, and care associated with pain.