Psychosocial Risk Factors and the Impact of Anxiety on Individuals with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to identify psychosocial risk factors in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain (≥3 months) and to examine their association with anxiety.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 203 participants who applied to the Family Medicine Clinic of a tertiary hospital between February and June 2022, were adults with musculoskeletal pain lasting at least 3 months, and met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Yellow Flag Questionnaire (YFQ), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (S-TAI).
Results: The mean age of the 203 participants was 45.38±12.68, with 67% reporting low back pain and 52.2% reporting neck pain. The mean total scores obtained from the scales were 44.31±8.27 for the TAI, 41.01±10.77 for the SAI, 73.05±16.80 for the YFQ, and 6.09±1.92 for the VAS, respectively. Positive and significant correlations were found between VAS scores and TAI, SAI, and YFQ scores (p=0.018; p=0.048; p<0.001). Positive and statistically significant correlation was found between TAI and SAI scores and YFQ scores (p<0.001 and p=0.006).YFQ scores were significantly higher in individuals aged 41 and above (p<0.001), primary school graduates (p<0.001), married individuals (p<0.001), those with low income (p=0.002), those with chronic diseases (p<0.001), individuals with widespread pain (p<0.001), those receiving treatment (p<0.001), and those not benefiting from treatment (p=0.047).
Conclusions: The psychosocial effects of chronic musculoskeletal pain were found to be at a moderate to high level. It was observed that as state and trait anxiety levels increased, the psychosocial effects of pain also increased. Various sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and response to treatment negatively affected the psychosocial effects of pain.
