|
Abstract:
|
Due to the subjective nature of pain and the profound debilitating effects of pain for a growing number of people , there are many challenges to approaching and fully addressing its problems . The traditional biomedical model of health limits its treatment focus to the physical components of pain . Biomedicine provides useful and effective short -term relief of bodily symptoms , but usually cannot cure pain that persists in both mind and body over time . Because chronic pain is often accompanied with discomfort , depression , and other significant life impairments , health researchers have recently conceptualized more comprehensive models to address pain . In the bio -psycho -social -spiritual health model , chronic pain is assessed and treated in the context of a person’s overall quality of life , considering biological , psychological , social , and spiritual health conditions . This movement towards adopting integrative health care models can also provide patient guidance needed for developing inner resources to adapt to pain , as well as recover from and prevent disease .
Self -compassion comes from a fertile field of inquiry emerging out of a wider conception of health that includes spirituality . The construct is based on three related components that can assist a person living with pain : (a ) being kind to oneself while in pain or suffering , (b ) perceiving difficult times as shared human experiences , and (c ) holding painful thoughts and feelings with mindfulness , instead of over -identification . Measured using the Self -Compassion Scale , it demonstrates positive associations with a variety of health indicators . However , a direct relationship with chronic pain has not yet been examined . In applying recent research in quality of life (QoL ) and self -compassion to a chronic pain patient population , the purpose of this study is twofold : (a ) to produce a comprehensive assessment of bio -psycho -social -spiritual QoL conditions (b ) to examine differences in QoL with the presence of self -compassion and determine its potential moderating effect on life impairments due to pain . From this project , the QoL conditions that are affected by chronic pain and the moderation effect of self -compassion will be understood better so that more effective treatment and prevention procedures can be developed for people living with pain from long -term disease conditions . |