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Social Support and Experimental Pain

From the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology (J.L.B., M.E.R.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Psychology (D.S.), Staffordshire University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom; and Department of Psychology (M.R.L.), Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Address reprint requests to: Michael E. Robinson, PhD, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, PO Box 100165 HSC, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0165. Email: merobin{at}nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experimental study was to supplement and expand on clinical research demonstrating that the provision of social support is associated with lower levels of acute pain.

METHODS: Undergraduates (52 men and 49 women) performed the cold pressor task either alone or accompanied by a friend or stranger who provided active support, passive support, or interaction. Pain perception was measured on a 10-point scale.

RESULTS: Participants in the active support and passive support conditions reported less pain than participants in the alone and interaction conditions, regardless of whether they were paired with a friend or stranger.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the presence of an individual who provides passive or active support reduces experimental pain.

Key Words: social support, • pain perception, • experimental pain.

Abbreviations: ANOVA = analysis of variance;; HSD = honestly significant difference.

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