A little self-compassion can go a long way for people living with chronic pain, according to a new study from Murdoch University.
The research shows that psychological factors—especially perfectionism and self-compassion—play a critical role in how people experience and manage chronic pain.
Dr Graeme Ditchburn, from Murdoch University’s School of Psychology, led the study. He found that people with chronic pain tend to have higher levels of perfectionism and lower levels of self-compassion.
“We wanted to better understand the link between chronic pain and stress caused by perfectionist expectations,” Dr Ditchburn said.
The research included two groups of participants between ages 18 and 65:
– 531 people with a chronic pain condition for more than three months
– 515 people with no reported pain condition
The chronic pain conditions were non-cancerous and not from recent wounds. Common pain types included back pain, migraine, and arthritis.
People with chronic pain may feel frustrated by their limitations and push themselves to meet unrealistic goals. They may also feel pressure from others’ expectations.
Low self-compassion may reflect a fear of being judged or self-critical thinking, where people blame themselves for their condition. This can lower their self-belief and increase stress, harming both mental and physical health.
Dr Ditchburn suggests that therapy focused on building self-compassion and reducing perfectionism could benefit people with chronic pain.
Future research may explore how different types of chronic pain relate to perfectionism and emotional well-being.
The study is published in the European Journal of Nutrition.
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