Table 1.
Resonance and emotions associated with various explanations of the mind-body connection
| Resonance | Emotions: Self-assessment manikins | ||||
| Explanations of the mind-body connection | Mean ± SDa | Regression coefficientb | Happiness | Excitement | Control/securitya |
| The mind and the body work together. You cannot separate your mind from your body. Thoughts and emotions affect the way your body experiences pain. | 4.2 ± 0.8 | 0.78 | 3.7 ± 2.2 | 4.6 ± 2.5 | 6.4 ± 1.7 |
| Nerves communicate the body’s signals to the brain. Nerves sometimes become more excitable when they are overstimulated. In this excited state, the amount of nerve signal needed to cause pain is much lower than usual. With overstimulated nerves, you may continue to feel pain even after the initial injury has passed. | 4.0 ± 0.8 | 0.57 | 3.9 ± 2.2 | 5.4 ± 2.3 | 5.3 ± 1.9 |
| When your nerves perform at their best, nerves signal pain when there is actual or potential damage to the body. If nerves get stuck in an overexcited state, they may send a pain signal even when there is no damage, causing you to feel pain. | 3.9 ± 0.7 | 0.54 | 3.4 ± 2.4 | 4.9 ± 2.5 | 5.6 ± 2.0 |
| Injury and uncomfortable conditions like arthritis cause pain. You feel more pain when you are stressed or feeling a bit down. | 3.8 ± 1.0 | 0.46 | 4.0 ± 2.6 | 4.7 ± 2.4 | 5.6 ± 1.9 |
| Injury and uncomfortable conditions like arthritis cause pain. Sometimes, you experience less pain when you are feeling relaxed or generally satisfied. | 3.8 ± 0.7 | 0.46 | 3.8 ± 2.3 | 5.4 ± 2.6 | 5.3 ± 1.9 |
| Your mind is a great storyteller. If your mind tells a story of strength and capability, you may experience the pain as being less severe. | 3.7 ± 1.1 | 0.35 | 3.9 ± 2.6 | 5.0 ± 2.4 | 6.2 ± 2.0 |
| Your mind is a great storyteller. If your mind tells a story of despair and vulnerability, you will feel worse and be less capable. | 3.4 ± 1.2 | Reference | 3.8 ± 2.4 | 4.6 ± 2.2 | 5.3 ± 2.3 |
| Mean ± SD for entire cohort | 3.8 ± 0.9c | 3.8 ± 2.4 | 4.9 ± 2.4 | 5.7 ± 2.0 | |
a
Significant difference in means.
b
Multiple linear regression of factors associated with resonance; a larger number indicates greater association with resonance.
c
Greater catastrophic thinking and less pain self-efficacy were associated with lower resonance across all explanations.