Papers of the Week

Research suggests that the way others react to a pain flare-up impacts on psychological and pain-related symptoms in chronic pain (CP). Experiencing validation from others is associated with less negative emotions and better functioning. Contrarily, experiencing criticism is linked to greater pain intensity and worse functioning. Nonetheless, studies are limited by an exclusive focus on spouses rather than significant other relationships, the use of proxy constructs (e.g., social support, responsiveness, solicitousness) rather than specific measures of validation and criticism, and a focus on significant others' behavior rather than patients' subjective experience. This study examines the psychometric properties of a new measure – Perceived Validation and Criticism in Pain Questionnaire (PVCPQ), and tests its contribution to functional impairment beyond pain intensity, sociodemographic and medical-related variables, positive and negative affect, safeness, and compassion from others.