THE RELATIONSHIPS OF COGNITIVE COPING AND PAIN CONTROL BELIEFS TO PAIN AND ADJUSTMENT AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective. Ethnic groups may experience or report pain differently; th us, we compared ethnic differences on pain coping strategies and contr ol beliefs, and the relationships of these variables to health status, among women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Using a sample o f 100 women (48 African-American, 52 Caucasian), we related pain copin g strategies and control beliefs to pain severity, activity levels, an d affective state, controlling for socioeconomics, behavioral impairme nt, and disease activity. Results. Ethnic groups did not differ in pai n severity or negative affect, but African-Americans were less physica lly active. African-Americans used more coping techniques involving di verting attention and praying/hoping; Caucasians used more coping tech niques involving ignoring pain. The relationships of praying/hoping an d reinterpreting pain to RA adjustment differed by ethnic group. In co ntrast, ignoring pain, coping statements, and stronger control beliefs predicted better health status, and diverting attention predicted mor e pain for all patients. Conclusion. There are ethnic differences in t he use of coping strategies that should be acknowledged when helping R A patients cope with their disease, but control beliefs and several co ping strategies predict pain and adjustment, regardless of ethnicity.