Pain severity and emotion dysregulation among Latinos in a community health care setting: relations to mental health

Daniel J. Paulus, Jafar Bakhshaie, Monica Garza, Melissa Ochoa-Perez, Nubia Angelina Mayorga, Daniel Bogiaizian, Zuzuky Robles, Qian Lu, Joseph Ditre, Kevin Vowles, Norman B. Schmidt, Michael J. Zvolensky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Although pain severity is often related to poorer mental health and is one of the most common presenting complaints in community health care settings, there is little understanding of the pain experience in relation to anxiety/depressive symptoms and disorders among Latino populations in medical contexts. Method To address this gap, the current study explored an interactive model of pain severity and emotion dysregulation in relation to anxiety/depressive symptoms and psychopathology among 274 Latinos who attended a community-based primary health care clinic [86.9% female; Mage=39.3 (SD=11.2); 96.0% indicated Spanish as their first language]. Results Results indicated a statistically significant interaction between pain severity and emotion dysregulation for suicidal symptoms, social anxiety symptoms and number of mood/anxiety disorders, such that more severe pain and greater levels of emotion dysregulation related to poorer mental health. Both pain severity and emotion dysregulation were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, but only pain severity was a significant predictor of anxious arousal symptoms. Conclusions These novel findings suggest a clinically significant interplay between pain severity and emotion dysregulation among Latinos in. The results are discussed in relation to the need for new screening and intervention tactics that address interrelations between pain severity and emotional dysregulation among Latinos seeking treatment in community health-care-based settings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-48
Number of pages8
JournalGeneral Hospital Psychiatry
Volume42
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2016

Keywords

  • Emotion regulation
  • Health disparities
  • Pain
  • Transdiagnostic
  • Vulnerabilities

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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