Social Problem Solving as a Mediator of the Stress-Pain Relationship Among Individuals With Noncardiac Chest Pain

Abstract

Objective: The present study tested the hypothesis that social problem solving (SPS) served to mediate the relationship between preceived stress and noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). Design: Adults undergoing stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) to determine the presence of underlying cardiovascular disease related to the experience of chest pain were recruited prior to stress testing to complete a series of self-report inventories. Main Outcome Measures: MPI results were used to identify individuals with NCCP (N = 166; 91 men, 75 women; mean age = 53.92 years, SD = 11.98). Measures included perceived stress, SPS, and chest pain frequency and intensity. Results: In direct tests of the mediational effects of SPS, it was found that two problem-solving dimensions, negative problem orientation and rational problem solving, each served as significant mediators of the effects of stress on both NCCP intensity and frequency. Conclusion: These results support a mediational analysis of NCCP that includes stress and SPS. As such, it identifies SPS as a potentially important clinical target to consider when developing future psychosocial-based therapy protocols for treating individuals with NCCP. © 2008 American Psychological Association.