Optimism, Social Support, Mood and Daily Coping With Pain in Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Bacground: The aim of the study was to examine whether optimism and social support moderate within-day associations between pain intensity, pain coping and negative and positive emotions. Methods: 53 women completed an initial questionnaire assessing LOT-R and a 7-day daily diary assessing pain (10- point visual analogue-scale), negative and positive emotions (PANAS) and pain coping strategies (Daily Coping Inventory adapted for chronic pain coping). Findings: Multilevel analyses examining within- and between person variability showed a greater increases in positive emotion on less painful days and increases in relaxation on more painful days; whereas pessimistic patients showed a greater decline in seeking for social and professional support in more painful days. Furthermore, results revealed that effect of social support was non-significant. Discussion: Findings support the positive role of optimism defined as coping resource in psychological functioning in rheumatoid arthritis.