Highlights
- •Perceived injustice could be construed as a dispositional variable.
- •Trait perceived injustice might reflect tendencies to see adverse events as unjust.
- •Trait perceived injustice was associated with higher ratings of pain intensity.
- •Trait perceived injustice was associated with pronounced displays of pain behavior.
Abstract
Recent research has revealed robust cross-sectional and prospective associations among
perceived injustice, pain, disability, and depressive symptoms in patients with chronic
pain. To date, research has proceeded from the assumption that perceived injustice
arises as a consequence of debilitating injury or illness. However, it is possible
that perceived injustice might have trait-like characteristics, persisting even in
the absence of an injustice-related eliciting event. The aim of the present study
was to develop and test a measure of trait perceived injustice (Trait Injustice Experience
Questionnaire [T-IEQ]). The item content of the T-IEQ was drawn from the original
IEQ and adapted for relevance to a noninjury context. A sample of 118 healthy undergraduates
completed the T-IEQ, measures of just world belief, and trait forgiveness prior to
participating in an experimental pain procedure. Pain intensity, pain behavior, and
emotional responses were recorded during the painful induction. The T-IEQ had good
internal consistency and test−retest reliability. The validity of the T-IEQ was supported
by significant associations with measures of just world belief and trait forgiveness.
The T-IEQ was also associated with pain intensity, pain behavior, and ratings of sadness
and anger. Anger mediated the relation between the T-IEQ and pain outcomes. The results
of the present study suggest that individuals vary in their trait-like propensity
to experience negative life events as unjust and that trait perceived injustice contributes
to adverse pain outcomes.
Perspective
The present findings suggest that perceived injustice might reflect an enduring tendency
to experience negative life events as unjust. The findings also suggest that trait
perceived injustice is associated with higher ratings of pain intensity and anger
and more pronounced displays of pain behavior.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 29, 2018
Accepted:
November 20,
2018
Received in revised form:
October 19,
2018
Received:
May 12,
2018
Footnotes
Supported by funds from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (award number MOP-119542), Canada Research Chairs, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Identification
Copyright
© Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Pain Society
