Further Evaluation of the Motivational Model of Pain Self-Management: Coping with Chronic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that motivation to engage in pain-coping strategies is a key predictor of how well a person adjusts to pain. According to the Motivational Model of Pain Self-Management, readiness to engage in pain self-management behaviors is influenced by beliefs about the importance of the behavior (importance) and the ability to carry out the behavior (self-efficacy). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the Motivational Model of Pain Self-Management for exercise and task persistence pain-coping behaviors in a sample of 114 individuals with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. METHODS: Measures included the Multidimensional Pain Readiness to Change Questionnaire-2 and measures of importance, self-efficacy, and coping behavior duration. Tests of mediation were conducted with two path analyses, one for each coping behavior. RESULTS: The effects of importance and self-efficacy beliefs on coping behaviors were mediated or partially mediated by readiness to engage in those behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for the Motivational Model of Pain Self-Management and have important implications for the development of treatments for chronic pain.