The role of neuroticism and social support in older adults with chronic pain behavior

The current investigation ascertains the role of Neuroticism and satisfaction with social support on pain behavior in the older patient with chronic pain. Forty-seven patients with chronic pain (mean age of 65.3 years) participated in the study. Measures included a Neuroticism score, a satisfaction with social support score, and a quantifiable score of pain behaviors. A multiple regression analysis was performed with Neuroticism and social support satisfaction as predictors and pain behaviors as the criterion. The analysis indicated that the personality facet of Neuroticism was a significant predictor of observable pain behavior in the older adult. There was no significant relationship between satisfaction with social support and pain behavior. Further, there was no interaction between Neuroticism and social support on pain behaviors. The current investigation supports the contention that Neuroticism is related to behavioral manifestations of pain in the older patient with chronic pain.