The role of social isolation in physical and emotional outcomes among patients with chronic pain

Abstract

Objective: Social isolation negatively impacts early-disease processes and long-term health. Individuals with chronic pain are more vulnerable to social isolation, which exacerbates symptoms. It is currently unclear whether: 1. group-based programs for chronic pain improve social isolation, 2. improvements in social isolation account for improvements in outcomes. This study involved secondary data analysis of participants in a 10-week mind-body physical activity program. We examined whether social isolation improved during treatment, and whether such improvements accounted for improvements in emotional and physical functioning.

Methods: Participants (N = 82) with chronic pain were randomized to a group-based mind-body physical activity intervention with (GetActive-Fitbit; n = 41) or without a Fitbit device (GetActive; n = 41). Participants completed self-reported measures of social isolation, emotional functioning (depression and anxiety symptoms), and multimodal physical functioning (self-report, performance-based, and objective). We used linear mixed effects modeling to examine pre-post treatment changes in social isolation and whether these changes accounted for improvements in emotional and physical functioning.

Results: Both interventions were associated with significant and comparable improvements in social isolation from baseline to end of treatment, and improvements in social isolation accounted for significant improvements in self-reported emotional and physical functioning.

Conclusion: Interventions may target social isolation in chronic pain to optimize treatment outcomes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03412916.

Keywords: Anxiety; Chronic pain; Depression; Mind-body; Physical function; Social isolation; Trail registration:ClinicalTrials.govNCT03412916clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT034129.