The Impact of Pain, Pain-Related Worrying, and Pain Acceptance on Wellbeing: A comparative Study of Chronic Pain Sufferers and the General Population

Chronic pain affects millions of individuals globally, but its impact reaches far beyond physical discomfort. It influences mental wellbeing, emotional regulation, work capability, and social relationships. Yet, traditional research often reduces quality of life to health status, overlooking the rich complexity of how people experience and respond to pain. This study, The Impact of Pain, Pain-Related Worrying, and Pain Acceptance on Wellbeing, addresses this gap.

Informed by both a prior undergraduate research project and the lived experience of the lead researcher, this study is grounded in a nuanced understanding of pain that extends beyond traditional metrics such as intensity or frequency. Rather than viewing pain as a purely physical phenomenon, the study adopts a holistic approach that acknowledges its emotional, psychological, and functional dimensions. To capture this complexity, the selected pain questionnaire includes subscales that assess not only how often pain is experienced or how severe it is, but also the individual’s ability to cope with pain, their emotional responses to it, and the extent to which pain interferes with daily activities.

This multidimensional assessment enables a richer exploration of the pain experience, particularly in how it relates to two key psychological constructs: pain-related worrying and pain acceptance. By examining both chronic and non-chronic pain populations, the study seeks to uncover how these psychological responses influence overall wellbeing. In doing so, it moves away from deficit-based models and instead embraces a strengths-based, person-centred perspective that acknowledges the variability and adaptability of individuals in the face of pain. Ultimately, this project aims to shed light on the complex interplay between physical symptoms and psychological resilience, offering insight into how different patterns of pain response may either hinder or support wellbeing across diverse populations.

Unlike many previous studies that focus exclusively on clinical populations, this research includes both individuals living with chronic pain and members of the general population who experience non-chronic (acute or intermittent) pain. By employing this dual-sample approach, the study aims to capture a broader and more nuanced understanding of how pain manifests in everyday life, and how psychological coping mechanisms—such as pain-related worrying and pain acceptance—differ across groups. Importantly, this comparative framework enables the identification of both unique and shared patterns of pain experience and psychological adjustment. The researcher hopes that by illuminating the distinctions between chronic and non-chronic pain experiences, the findings will contribute to more tailored, empathetic, and effective pain management strategies—ones that prioritise the lived realities of patients rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.

The research not only contributes academically by filling a significant knowledge gap, but it also has the potential to influence healthcare and therapeutic practices. By shifting the focus from purely medical models to psychologically informed approaches, this study encourages a more compassionate, person-centred understanding of chronic pain.

Importantly, all data will be anonymised and securely stored, and participants will retain the right to withdraw at any time. The study adheres to ethical best practices and welcomes adult participants aged 18+ from diverse backgrounds.

By shedding light on the interplay between psychological resilience, pain perception, and wellbeing, this study aims to challenge assumptions, destigmatise chronic pain experiences, and promote more inclusive and empowering frameworks for understanding pain in both research and care contexts.

If you decide to help with this research by accessing the below link, you will be asked to spend around 10-20 minutes and answer a couple of questionnaires.

Interested?

To find out more and participate, click here  or scan the QR code in the poster below.