Research Explained: Can Optimism Decrease Pain-Related Fear?
How imagining your best possible self may reduce pain avoidance
Can improving emotional wellbeing create a greater sense of safety in people experiencing pain? New research suggests that simple positive imagery exercises might help reduce pain-related fear and anxiety.
In their groundbreaking study "Pain and avoidance: The potential benefits of imagining your best possible self," researchers Gatzounis and Meulders explore how positive mental imagery affects pain responses. Published in Behaviour Research and Therapy (2022), this research offers promising insights for pain management.
Key Research Findings
The study reveals that participants who engaged in "best possible self" imagery showed:
- Reduced pain-related fear
- Increased sense of safety during movement
- Lower pain expectations during physical tasks
Clinical Implications
These findings suggest that incorporating positive imagery exercises into pain management programs could help patients develop new "safe" memories associated with movement, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Read the full paper:
Pain and avoidance: The potential benefits of imagining your best possible self
Citation: Gatzounis, R., & Meulders, A. (2022). Pain and avoidance: The potential benefits of imagining your best possible self. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 153, 104080.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35468524/
Topics
✦ Pain Management ✦ Pain-Related Fear ✦ Best Possible Self Imagery ✦ Pain Avoidance Behaviour ✦ Positive Psychology
