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
Review
. 2009 Apr;13(2):127-32.
doi: 10.1007/s11916-009-0022-0.

Does spirituality as a coping mechanism help or hinder coping with chronic pain?

Amy B Wachholtz  1 , Michelle J Pearce
Affiliations
Review

Does spirituality as a coping mechanism help or hinder coping with chronic pain?

Amy B Wachholtz et al. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Chronic pain is a complex experience stemming from the interrelationship among biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. Many chronic pain patients use religious/spiritual forms of coping, such as prayer and spiritual support, to cope with their pain. This article explores empirical research that illustrates how religion/spirituality may impact the experience of pain and may help or hinder the coping process. This article also provides practical suggestions for health care professionals to aid in the exploration of spiritual issues that may contribute to the pain experience.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Pain. 1986 Mar;24(3):355-364 - PubMed
    1. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2004 Feb;72(1):91-102 - PubMed
    1. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Apr 26;164(8):858-62 - PubMed
    1. Med Pediatr Oncol. 1981;9(2):121-8 - PubMed
    1. J Gen Intern Med. 2003 Jan;18(1):38-43 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources