Prediction of Pain Intensity Based on Pain Metaphorical Perception and Quality of Life in Musculoskeletal Patients

Aims: The purpose of this study was to find the relationship between pain metaphorical perception and quality of life with pain intensity in musculoskeletal patients. Method and Materials: This was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of this study included all musculoskeletal patients in Tehran. In this study, 250 candidates were selected via the at-reach method in 2024. They completed three questionnaires, Chronic Pain Intensity (1992), Pain Metaphorical Perception (2023), and Quality of Life (1996).  For data analysis, SPSS-26 was used. Findings: The results showed that the correlation coefficient of pain intensity with pain metaphorical perception was significant (r=0.46) (P 0.01). The relationship between quality of life and pain intensity were negative and meaningful (r = -0.29) (P 0.05). Moreover, 9.6% of the pain intensity variance was explained by the pain metaphorical perception and 4.5% was explained by the quality of life. Conclusion: It is suggested to investigate specific conceptual metaphors of musculoskeletal pain in future studies. It is also recommended that specialists in this field, physicians, health psychologists, etc. pay attention to the role of metaphors in improving the quality of life of patients with severe pain.