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Causal attributions and coping with pain in chronic headache sufferers

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Abstract

In the present study the relationship between attributions of causality and pain-coping behavior in headache patients was examined. Data from 441 chronic headache sufferers were collected by means of self-report inventories. The most frequently reported causal attributions were hereditary factors, emotional distress, menses or menopause, an overactive life-style, weather conditions, nutrition, and physical exertion. Some support was found for a hypothesized association between physically and psychologically related causal attributions and allied pain-coping behavior. However, as far as a relationship was revealed, it served to explain only less than 2% of the variance in pain-coping behavior. It is concluded that causal attributions do not contribute to the understanding of pain-coping behavior in chronic headache sufferers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Clinic, National University of Utrecht, Catharijnesingel 101, 3511, GV Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Floor W. Kraaimaat & Rene E. O. Van Schevikhoven

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  1. Floor W. Kraaimaat
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  2. Rene E. O. Van Schevikhoven
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This investigation was partially subsidized by the Dutch Migraine Foundation and the Foundation for Behavioural Medicine.

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Kraaimaat, F.W., Van Schevikhoven, R.E.O. Causal attributions and coping with pain in chronic headache sufferers. J Behav Med 11, 293–302 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844434

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844434

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