Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine


ISSN: 2300-9705     eISSN: 2353-2807    OAI    DOI: 10.18276/cej.2023.2-07
CC BY-SA   Open Access   DOAJ  DOAJ

Issue archive / Vol. 42, No. 2/2023
The Importance of Personality Traits, Optimism and Quality of Life for Pain Threshold and Pain Tolerance in the Elderly

Authors: Tomasz Gałkowski
Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Poland

Katarzyna Leźnicka ORCID
Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Poland

Kinga Michnik ORCID
High School of European Integration, Szczecin, Poland

Grzegorz Pawlus ORCID
Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Poland
Keywords: pain perception algometer Visual Analoque Scale elderly personality traits optimism quality of life
Data publikacji całości:2023
Page range:10 (75-84)
Cited-by (Crossref) ?:

Abstract

With increasing age, the frequency of chronic pain increases compared to acute pain. This is due to structural and functional changes caused by ageing of the nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between personality traits, optimism, quality of life, and subjective assessment of pain measured experimentally with an algometer and clinically with the Visual Analoque Scale (VAS). In the group of 133 seniors (61-86 years; 78% women), we used an algometer to measure pain threshold and tolerance, the VAS scale to assess subjective intensity, and standardized questionnaires (EPQ-R(s), LOTR, SWLS) to measure psychological variables. Extraversion was found to promote both higher pain threshold and higher pain tolerance, whereas pain tolerance was negatively correlated with neuroticism. Higher severity of the psychotic trait was associated with more intense subjective pain experience. Optimism and overall quality of life were not associated with any pain measures. A better understanding of the personality correlates of pain perception could support a more accurate tailoring of pain management in elderly patients.
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