Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1987

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Howard R. Pollio

Committee Members

Alvin Burstein, Michael Eisenstadt, Glen Graber, Joel Lubar

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of chronic low back pain from the perspective of the person suffering it. Fifteen individuals with chronic low back pain participated in an open-ended interview concerning their experiences of chronic pain. Participants represented a broad range of low back pain sufferers, with some participants being unable to work because of pain, while others were employed. An empirical phenomenological procedure was used to reduce each interview transcript to thematic units. The thematic units were analyzed to formulate qualitative descriptions, and to identify key themes that captured essential aspects of the experience of chronic pain.

Three major themes were found to adequately and reliably describe the experience of chronic pain. Each major theme was described by additional sub-themes and experiential foci. The first theme—Experiencing Pain—described the more immediate bodily and emotional concomitants of participants' experiences. Sub-themes and foci, initially proposed by Parks (1987), were modified for this study and included "Hurting/Being Hurt," "Frustrating/Being Frustrated," "Shocking/Being Shocked," "Lacking/ Being Deprived," "Straining/Being Strained," and "Confusing/Being Confused." Foci included "Body/Self," "Others," and "World."

The second theme—Dealing with Chronic Pain—described participants' attempts to cope with or master the effects of chronic pain. Three sub-themes were identified: "Accepting/Facing," "Maintaining/Tolerating," and "Escaping/Avoiding." A sub-theme could involve one of three foci: "Reflective," "Bodily," and "Interpersonal."

The third theme—Impact of Chronic Pain—described the long term effects of chronic pain on participants. Two sub-themes—"Damaging" and "Valuable"—and three foci—"Body/Self," "Others," and "World"— were modified from those initially described by Parks (1987).

The three themes and associated sub-themes and foci were used to describe the experience of people with chronic low back pain. Two small subgroups were identified among the participants: those who were employed or engaged in work-like activity, and those receiving treatment in a pain clinic. Tentative hypotheses about differences between these two group were discussed using the themes, sub-themes, and foci. Implications for treatment of pain patients and suggestions for further research were formulated.

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