THE INFLUENCE OF WARNING SIGNAL TIMING AND COGNITIVE PREPARATION ON THE AVERSIVENESS OF COLD-PRESSER PAIN

This study examined the role of prior warning time, cognitive preparat ion and self-efficacy in the reaction to cold-presser pain that has a substantial stimulus duration and leaves a residual effect. Forty-eigh t, paid, male subjects were randomly assigned to one of 3 cognitive pr eparation groups: (1) Training group, provided with a self-instruction al booklet of pain control techniques, (2) Citizenship group, to contr ol for reading a booklet, and (3) Control group with no advanced prepa ration. Warning times used on a within-subjects basis were 0, 30, and 180 sec prior to immersion of their arms in cold water. Results indica ted that overall, the 180 sec warning time yielded the lowest pain rat ings, Warning time had no effect on duration in water for subjects who underwent training, but the 30 sec and 180 sec warning time yielded l onger duration in water, for subjects in the other groups. The trainin g group preparation was effective in raising perceived self-efficacy f or coping with pain which, in turn, was found to be correlated with pa in tolerance. Perceived self-efficacy was also found to have an effect on heart rate with high scorers yielding a lower reaction upon immers ion into the cold water compared to the low scorers. The results point to the need to consider the effect of the stimulus characteristics an d the centrality of perceived self-efficacy when preparing a subject p rior to pain stimulation.