The role of anxiety in the association between physical pain and social pain sensitivity in young adults

We experience physical pain and social pain. While rejection sensitivity measures, such as Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNES), were previously used to evaluate social pain sensitivity, Social Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) has been developed to specifically evaluate social pain sensitivity. Although physical pain and social pain seem quite distinct from each other, research shows a close link between them. However, the association between physical pain sensitivity and SPQ remains unclear. This study examined the association of SPQ with BFNES and Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), an instrument to evaluate physical pain sensitivity, and involvement of anxiety in the association between physical pain and social pain sensitivity. One-hundred forty young adults participated in this cross-sectional survey study and completed the general information questionnaire, PSQ, BFNES, SPQ, and Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI). Data were analyzed using correlation and partial correlation analyses. SPQ was associated with both PSQ and BFNES, while TAI was associated with PSQ, BFNES, and SPQ. The association between PSQ and BFNES remained significant after controlling TAI, but the association between PSQ and SPQ disappeared. The results demonstrate convergent validity of SPQ in pain. Anxiety may explain the association between physical pain and social pain sensitivity. We experience pain in response to exposure to physical painful stimuli (e.g. hitting toes against a table leg). However, pain experiences often go beyond such physical dimension, and we sometimes experience painful emotional distress to social rejection and exclusion, so-called social pain. Although physical pain and social pain appear distinct from each other, research shows a close link between them. To add to this line of research, this study examined the association between physical pain and social pain sensitivity using self-report questionnaire. Furthermore, this study examined an involvement of anxiety in the association between them. One-hundred forty young adults participated in this cross-sectional study and completed the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) to evaluate physical pain sensitivity, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNES) and Social Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) to evaluate social pain sensitivity, and Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) to evaluate anxiety. The analysis showed that SPQ was associated with both PSQ and BFNES, while TAI was associated with PSQ, BFNES, and SPQ. The association between PSQ and BFNES remained significant after controlling TAI, but the association between PSQ and SPQ disappeared. Together, this study demonstrates the close link between physical pain and social pain sensitivity, and anxiety may explain the association between physical pain and social pain sensitivity.