Citation

Esteve R, Ramírez-Maestre C, López-Martínez AE. Int. J. Behav. Med. 2013; 20(1): 59-68.

Affiliation

Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain, zarazaga@uma.es.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, International Society of Behavioral Medicine, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12529-011-9216-z

PMID

22205550

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Spanish version of the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire has not been validated. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to examine the factor structure of the Spanish version of the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire and present empirical evidence regarding its validity. METHOD: A sample of 468 chronic back pain patients completed a battery of instruments to assess fear-avoidance beliefs, pain anxiety, pain catastrophizing, pain vigilance and awareness, pain acceptance, depression, anxiety, disability, and pain intensity. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity of a nine-item version with two subscales: Active Vigilance and Passive Awareness. Both subscales and the total score were positively and significantly correlated with other fear-related constructs: fear-avoidance beliefs, pain anxiety, and pain catastrophizing. Regression analyses showed that Active Vigilance and the two subscales of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire were significantly associated with higher anxiety and that the Acceptance Activity Engagement subscale was significantly associated with lower anxiety. The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical subscale was associated with higher disability and the Acceptance Pain Willingness subscale was associated with lower disability. The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Work subscale was significantly associated with higher pain intensity and depression; the Acceptance Activity Engagement and Pain Willingness subscales were significantly associated with lower pain intensity and depression. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument. Pain Acceptance and Fear Avoidance beliefs are better predictors of adjustment to pain than pain hypervigilance.

Language: en