Intolerance of Uncertainty and Chronic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Cognitive Avoidance, Negative Problem Orientation and Positive Beliefs to Worry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associated Professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

2 Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

10.48308/apsy.2024.236440.1685

Abstract

Aim: This research aimed to test the mediating role of cognitive avoidance, negative problem orientation, and positive beliefs about worry in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and chronic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis. Method: In this correlational study, 350 patients (194 men and 156 women) were selected from visitors to the Kosar Imaging Center and the MS Society of Iran in Tehran using convenience sampling. Participants responded to the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (Freeston et al., 1994), the Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire (Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2004), the Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (Robichaud & Dugas, 2005), the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (Sexton & Dugas, 2004), and the Short-Form Pain Inventory (Cleeland, 1989). Results: Results from path analysis indicated that the model incorporating cognitive avoidance, negative problem orientation, and positive beliefs about worry as mediators between intolerance of uncertainty and chronic pain had a good fit with the data. Conclusion: Overall, the findings of this study provide additional evidence in the context of understanding chronic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis through intolerance of uncertainty, mediated by multiple mechanisms, including cognitive avoidance, negative problem orientation, and positive beliefs about worry. These results further support the validity of cognitive models of psychological pathology.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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