Determinants of pain experience: Perceived competence, trait anxiety, trait depression and moderator effects

The study examined determining and moderator variables of chronic pain experience. The data indicated strong influences of perceived competence as well as trait anxiety and trait depression. Furthermore some moderator effects could be detected, which were able to explain some extreme states of pain in addition to the effect of the determining variables: subjects with low perceived competence and high trait anxiety suffered significantly more from their pain than subjects with high perceived competence or low trait anxiety. The consequences for further research as well as for pain therapy are discussed.