Effects of older adults’ preferences for social support of functional autonomy/dependence on chronic pain-related disability

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic pain is very prevalent and potentially highly disabling in later life. Studies showed significant correlations between formal social support (SS) of functional autonomy/dependence (provided by staff at day-care centers/nursing homes) and older adults’ pain-related disability. However, the causal relationship between SS for functional autonomy and pain-related disability was yet to be tested. Moreover, the size of this effect could depend on the extent to which older adults preferred SS for autonomy vs. dependence. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate: (1) the direct effect of SS for autonomy/dependence on pain-related disability; and (2) the extent to which this effect was moderated by preferences for autonomy/dependence. Method: 170 older adults (M=78 years) with chronic musculoskeletal pain, attending day-care centers, participated in a 3-months prospective study with measurements at three moments in time. Participants filled out the revised Formal Social Support for Autonomy and Dependence in Pain Inventory, the Preferences for Formal Social Support in Pain Scale and the Brief Pain Inventory. Results: Findings have shown that perceived promotion of dependence at T1 predicted pain-related disability at T2 (B=0.30, p<.001), but this relationship was stronger among older adults with low preferences for autonomy support. Discussion: These results highlight the importance of conceptualizing these two functions of pain-related formal social support and will be discussed in light of recent literature stressing the role on social support responsivity on individuals’ health and wellbeing.