Easing the Burden? Religiosity and Educational Inequality in Pain Interference

ABSTRACT A consistent inverse gradient in pain prevalence is typically observed across educational strata. Religion stands out as a source of social and personal support that may moderate the amount of chronic pain interference but may do so differently across the educational spectrum. We test competing hypotheses: The deprivation compensation hypothesis suggests that those suffering from chronic pain with lower education will benefit more from religion, whereas the enhanced resources hypothesis posits that college‐educated will receive more benefit. Drawing on Wave 3 of the MIDUS study, we find that among those with chronic pain ( N = 1009), respondents with less than a high school degree had the highest chronic pain interference, followed by the high school/General Education Development (GED), some college, or vocational group. Our findings suggest support for the deprivation compensation hypothesis, with religious support and coping displaying a stronger buffering association on pain interference for less educated Americans.