Higher Dispositional Optimism Predicts Lower Pain Reduction During Conditioned Pain Modulation

Optimism, or a generalized expectancy for positive outcomes, is associated with lower pain sensitivity, higher placebo analgesia, and better adjustment to chronic pain [8,9,26]. The initial conceptualization of optimism was developed from a broader model of behavioral self- regulation [10,32,33]. Based on this model, optimists are people who expect positive outcomes, making them more likely to engage in health promoting behaviors [33]. While optimism is viewed as a stable individual personality difference, it is also associated with coping strategies and positive affect, which lead to better health outcomes [10,26,31].
Source: The Journal of Pain - Category: Materials Science Authors: Source Type: research