The power of smiles: mitigating pain through facial expression

Abstract

Smiling, a facial expression observed surprisingly often during the experience of acute pain, may play a pivotal role in shaping physiological and psychological responses. This study explores the influence of smiling on objective (i.e., heart rate) and subjective responses (i.e., pain reports and state affect) during a painful cold temperature task (N = 57, Mage = 20.80, SD = 1.50). Participants who spontaneously smiled during the painful task had lower heart rates throughout the study and reported higher levels of positive affect during recovery from pain. By examining the significance of this facial expression, this study offers valuable insights into ways in which smiling contributes to the promotion of positive physiological and psychological outcomes within the challenging context of pain.