Social Support and Experimental Pain
2003/03/01 by Jennifer L. Brown, David Sheffield, Mark R. Leary +1 · 299 citations
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Acute pain #Anesthesia #Blood pressure #Clinical psychology #Cold pressor test #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion #Heart rate #Internal medicine #Medicine #Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation #Neuroscience #Pain perception #Pediatric Pain Management Techniques #Perception #Physical therapy #Psychology #Social psychology #Social support
paper · doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000030388.62434.46
published in Psychosomatic Medicine 65(2), 276-283 (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)
openalex publication_date 2003/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experimental study was to supplement and expand on clinical research demonstrating that the provision of social support is associated with lower levels of acute pain. METHODS: Undergraduates (52 men and 49 women) performed the cold pressor task either alone or accompanied by a friend or stranger who provided active support, passive support, or interaction. Pain perception was measured on a 10-point scale. RESULTS: Participants in the active support and passive support conditions reported less pain than participants in the alone and interaction conditions, regardless of whether they were paired with a friend or stranger. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the presence of an individual who provides passive or active support reduces experimental pain.
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