COPING WITH CHRONIC PAIN - FLEXIBLE GOAL ADJUSTMENT AS AN INTERACTIVEBUFFER AGAINST PAIN-RELATED DISTRESS

In the present study, Brandtstadter's (1992) distinction between assim ilation and accommodation as two fundamental means of coping is applie d to the field of chronic pain. Assimilative coping involves active at tempts (e.g. instrumental activities, self-corrective actions, compens atory measures) to alter unsatisfactory life circumstances and situati onal constraints in accordance with personal preferences. Conversely, accommodative coping (e.g. downgrading of aspirations, positive reappr aisal, self-enhancing comparisons) is directed towards a revision of s elf-evaluative and personal goal standards in accordance with perceive d deficits and losses. Our research is based on the assumption that ch ronic pain can be described as a major source of threat or impediment to personal goals. When goals are no longer perceived to be attainable through active-assimilative coping efforts, accommodative coping shou ld become increasingly important in dealing with chronic pain. In a st udy of 120 chronic pain patients, dispositional differences in assimil ative (tenacious goal pursuit) and accommodative coping tendencies (fl exible goal adjustment), as well as measures of pain-related coping an d adjustment (depression, pain-related disability, pain intensity) wer e assessed. The results suggest that accommodative coping functions as a protective resource by preventing global losses in the psychologica l functioning of chronic pain patients and maintaining a positive life perspective. Most important, the ability to flexibly adjust personal goals attenuated the negative impact of the pain experience (pain inte nsity, pain-related disability) on psychological well-being (depressio n). Furthermore, pain-related coping strategies led to a reduction of disability only when accompanied by a high degree of flexible goal adj ustment. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings f or coping research and the treatment of chronic pain patients are disc ussed.