The role of distress tolerance, social support, and cognitive flexibility in predicting pain catastrophizing in patients with chronic low back pain

The present study aimed to investigate the roles of distress tolerance, social support, and cognitive flexibility in predicting pain catastrophizing in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The research design was descriptive and correlational. The study's population included all patients with CLBP in the 7th district in Tehran in 2022. The sample included 180 patients selected through the availability sampling. The participants completed questionnaires on distress tolerance, social support, cognitive flexibility, and pain catastrophizing. Data analysis was conducted using the Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis with SPSS 24 software. The results of this research indicated that distress tolerance, social support, and cognitive flexibility had a significant negative correlation with pain catastrophizing (p < 0.05). The correlation coefficient of predictor variables with pain catastrophizing in patients with CLBP was 0.68. These variables could significantly predict 61% of the changes in pain catastrophizing in patients suffering from CLBP. In general, the obtained results demonstrate the relationship and the possibility of predicting pain catastrophizing through distress tolerance, social support, and cognitive flexibility in patients with CLBP. According to the findings of the research, increasing distress tolerance, social support, and cognitive flexibility can help control the extent of pain catastrophizing in CLBP patients.