Stressful events and information processing dispositions moderate the relationship between positive and negative affect: Implications for pain patients

Relationships between positive affect, negative affect, and pain were analy zed as a prospective function of stressful events in a sample of rheumatoid arthritis patients and as a cross-sectional function of an information pro cessing disposition in persons with fibromyalgia. Positive affect and negat ive affect were statistically separate factors overall in both samples. In addition, negative affect and pain were related across all conditions. Howe ver positive affect and negative affect were more negatively correlated dur ing stressful periods and more negatively correlated for patients who proce ssed information in a more simplistic fashion. Also, positive affect predic ted pain during stressful times and did so for patients who processed infor mation more simplistically as well. These data suggest positive affect and negative affect are unique factors whose interrelation and external correla tes are not static.