Week 8 Discussion
No due date
Please discuss the following questions. Discuss the psychological factors associated with pain and at least one psychosocial intervention used to treat pain. Pick two of the five theoretical models of coping with chronic illness and describe in detail. What adherence interventions would be effective in the two models you choose? Read over the grading rubric for discussions before posting.peer 1
Darby Thomas
an hour ago, at 6:46 PM
NEW
Hi Class,
Psychological Factors and Psychosocial Interventions in Pain
Pain isn’t just a physical experience—our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors shape it. People who catastrophize (“this pain will never end”) often report higher pain levels and distress. At the same time, those with stronger self-efficacy and social support tend to cope better (Stanton & Taylor, 2025). Emotional states like anxiety or depression can heighten pain perception, but positive emotions and adaptive thinking can help reduce how disruptive pain feels day to day.
One well-supported psychosocial treatment for chronic pain is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts about pain and replace them with more balanced perspectives, while teaching relaxation and pacing strategies. Research shows CBT can lower pain intensity, improve function, and reduce dependence on medication (Ehde et al., 2014).
Coping Models and Adherence Interventions
Two models that explain how people manage chronic illness are the Self-Regulation Model and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.
- The Self-Regulation Model (Leventhal et al.) suggests that people create “mental blueprints” of their illness—beliefs about what causes it, how long it will last, and how controllable it is. Interventions that focus on clear health education and self-monitoring tools (like pain diaries or symptom-tracking apps) can strengthen adherence by aligning patients’ beliefs with reality and reinforcing active coping.
- The Transactional Model (Lazarus & Folkman) views coping as a process of ongoing appraisal and adjustment. Interventions that promote problem-focused coping (goal-setting, following treatment plans) and emotion-focused coping (mindfulness, social support) can improve both adherence and emotional resilience.
Both models highlight the importance of empowering patients to see pain management as something they can shape, not just endure.
Which coping strategy—problem-focused or emotion-focused—do you think is most effective for managing chronic pain in daily life, and why?
References
Ehde, D. M., Dillworth, T. M., & Turner, J. A. (2014). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with chronic pain: Efficacy, innovations, and directions for research. American Psychologist, 69(2), 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035747
Stanton, A. L., & Taylor, S. E. (2025). Health psychology (11th ed.). McGraw Hill.
peer 2 There are many interesting areas described in your textbook that we were unable to cover in this course. Pick one chapter listed below and write a 2-3 page paper describing what you have learned in that chapter.
Textbook:
Taylor, S. E., & Stanton, A. L. (2021). (pp. 40-66) Health psychology (11th ed.). University of California, Los Angeles.
PART 2
Select one of the following chapters:
- Chapter 8: Using Health Services
- Chapter 9: Patients, Providers, and Treatments
- Chapter 12: Psychological Issues in Advancing and Terminal Illness
NOTE: basic requirements of this paper and all written assignments in this class include a cover page, introduction, section headings, APA formatted in-text citations, well-designed paragraph structure, and a reference list. Use tables and figures to support your work as you would for professional documents.