Title: Use of emotion regulation strategies among young and old chronic pain patients: A scoping review
Investigators: Gillian Fennell, BS, University of Southern California; Elaine Wethington, PhD, Cornell University; M. Cary Reid, MD PhD, Weill Cornell Medical College; Erica Sluys, University of Southern California; Kelsey Donovan, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD, University of Southern California; Susan Enguídanos, PhD MPH, University of Southern California
Overview: This scoping review will analyze literature highlighting age differences in emotion regulatory and coping mechanisms among adults with chronic pain. Each paper discussed in this review must specifically measure or qualitatively request narratives about emotion regulatory strategies from patient respondents. ‘Emotion regulation strategies’ include both perceived adaptive and maladaptive emotion-coping styles, including cognitive reappraisal, blaming others or oneself, seeking support, unrealistic wishful thinking, etc. We will address two categories of outcome variables: (a) physical functioning and (b) chronic pain adjustment. Taken together, outcomes may include (but are not limited to) measures of pain intensity, interference, pain-related depression, anxiety, pain acceptance, and pain catastrophizing. Understanding the scope of literature on this topic may help identify effective emotion-focused coping strategies for adults with chronic pain, and assess whether that effectiveness is age-dependent and/or related to specific pain conditions or intensities