Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2008 Sep;18(3):249-61.
doi: 10.1007/s10926-008-9140-5. Epub 2008 Jun 7.

The role of perceived injustice in the experience of chronic pain and disability: scale development and validation

Affiliations

The role of perceived injustice in the experience of chronic pain and disability: scale development and validation

Michael J L Sullivan et al. J Occup Rehabil. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a questionnaire designed to assess perceive injustice associated with injury.

Methods: In Study 1, the 12-item Injustice Experience Questionnaire (IEQ) was administered to 226 individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. A subsample of 85 individuals were interviewed 1-year later about their ongoing symptoms and return to work status. In Study 2, the IEQ and other pain-related measures were administered on two separate occasions to 70 pain patients participating in a functional restoration rehabilitation program.

Results: -Study 1 Principal components analysis yielded a two-component solution with eigenvalues greater 1. Item content of the two components reflected elements of blame and irreparability of loss. In cross sectional analyses, the IEQ was significantly correlated with measures of catastrophic thinking, r = .75, P < .01, fear of movement/re-injury, r = .58, P < .01, depression, r = .66, P < .01, and pain severity, r = .54, P < .01. Cross-sectional regression analyses revealed that the IEQ, beta = .44, P < .01, and the PCS, beta = .18, P < .05, each contributed significant unique variance to the prediction of pain severity. The IEQ prospectively predicted return to work status, OR = .75, 95% CI = .58-.99, but not pain severity.

Results: -Study 2 Analyses supported the test re-test reliability of the IEQ, r = .90, P < .01. Treatment-related changes in the IEQ were significantly correlated with an objective index of improved physical function, r = .51, P < .01.

Conclusions: The findings of these two studies support the construct validity of the IEQ and suggest that this measure might be a useful complement to psychosocial assessment of individuals with persistent pain conditions. Discussion addresses the processes through which perceived injustice might impact on disability and rehabilitation outcomes.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Pain. 2000 Apr;85(3):317-332 - PubMed
    1. Pain. 1998 Sep;77(3):253-260 - PubMed
    1. J Occup Health Psychol. 2004 Apr;9(2):152-64 - PubMed
    1. Clin J Pain. 2006 Nov-Dec;22(9):790-8 - PubMed
    1. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001;52:527-53 - PubMed

Publication types