Variations in perceived pain associated with emotional distress and socialidentity in AIDS

This article examines associations between self-perceptions of pain and ass ociated pain distress to gender, ethnicity and religion, health care, healt h status, and emotional distress. Data were collected through interviews co llected in participants' homes. Participants were 151 adults with diagnoses of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficienc y syndrome (AIDS). Time since diagnosis, health status, health care, ethnic ity, gender, religion, and emotional distress were examined as mediators of pain symptoms, pain distress, and anticipatory pain. Almost all participan ts (83%) reported AIDS-related pain in the last 3 months. Unexpectedly, pai n was negatively associated with time since diagnosis with AIDS. Pain sympt oms and pain distress tended to vary by ethnicity, with Latinos expressing more symptoms and pain distress than African Americans. Anticipatory pain v aried significantly by gender and religion, with women, Catholics, and Prot estants anticipating pain more than men and non-Christians. Anxiety, depres sion, and general emotional distress were significantly associated with pai n symptoms (r = 0.44, 0.33, 0.47) and pain distress (r = 0.34, 0.31, 0.34). Health status and health care were unrelated to pain symptoms, pain distre ss, or anticipatory pain. Pain is a common problem for people living with H IV/AIDS. Self-reported pain is associated with cultural factors and changes in illness status. Clinicians' attention to patients' emotional distress, depression, and anxiety may assist in interventions for pain management.