A pilot study investigating the comparable effect of focused and distracted attention on pain tolerance between males and females.
Item
- Title
- A pilot study investigating the comparable effect of focused and distracted attention on pain tolerance between males and females.
- Author(s)
- Roberts, Anna
- Abstract
- ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to strengthen the limited research investigating the comparable effects of focused and distracted attention during experimental pain between males and females. There are a number of studies that have manipulated attention focus and the effects on pain tolerance and perception, yet few have also incorporated gender comparisons. DesignThirty asymptomatic subjects were instructed to either attend focus towards or away from their hand, which was emerged in an ice bath at 2.5°C for up to two minutes. Measures of pain tolerance were recorded by the length of time able to withstand this pain stimulus. Self-reports of emotion, arousal and dominance felt during the pain stimulation were recorded following each attention strategy. ResultsThere was no statistical significant effect found between focus versus distraction or between gender on pain tolerance. Statistical significance showed effect of emotion valence on pain tolerance (p=0.01) but not arousal or dominance. ConclusionOutcomes were inconclusive on the effects of attention strategy or gender on pain tolerance, however trends showed general lower mean tolerances in females and a greater preference of distraction on pain tolerance in males. Both males and females reported significantly happier emotion during distraction than focused attention to the pain stimulus. These results are discussed in light of previous research and may provide important considerations for pain-coping strategies, like attention, used within manual therapy.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2015
- Date Submitted
- 13.11.2018 11:12:57
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 25
- Submitted by:
- 4457
- Pub-Identifier
- 16288
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Keywords
- attention, distraction, experimental pain, focus, gender, pain tolerance
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Roberts, Anna, “A pilot study investigating the comparable effect of focused and distracted attention on pain tolerance between males and females.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 29, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/2058