Prayer as a coping strategy for chronic pain patients.

Prayer as a coping mechanism was examined in a group of 105 persons experiencing chronic pain. Previous research suggested that prayer may actually be associated with increased disability among individuals who develop a permanent, painful condition of six months duration or longer. Consistent with previous research, individuals who endorsed a greater use of prayer to cope with their pain also reported a greater degree of disability. Follow-up statistical analyses suggested that prayer was associated with avoidance suggestive of a passive coping response. Additional research is needed to clarify the relationship of prayer to avoidance.