Pain in the elderly has been related to sleep disturbance, decreased socialization, impaired function, increased utilization of health care, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. However, the specific impact of pain on psychological well-being in the elderly has received little attention. This relationship was examined in a secondary analysis of a ten-year longitudinal study of chronic illness and psychological well-being in community-dwelling elderly women (N=243 at baseline, mean age=73.3). The ten-year study was generated in a developmentally-based model of well-being. Three questions were asked: 1. What is the pattern of pain over ten years? 2. Does well-being vary over time in relation to pain? and 3. Does health status vary over time in relation to pain? Participants completed mailed surveys of demographic information, pain, physical health (subjective health, functional health, chronic illnesses), psychological well-being (purpose in life, personal growth, positive relations, autonomy), and psychological distress (depression, anxiety) at baseline, 6 years, and 10 years. From baseline to 10 years, there were significant increases in the number of women reporting pain (53% to 73%) and in mean degree of bother from pain. A series of 3 (pain group) by 3 (time) ANOVAs examined health and well-being over time in women with no pain (baseline), those with pain but no bother, and those bothered by pain. Women bothered by pain, compared to women not bothered by pain, reported significantly worse subjective health, chronic conditions, and functional health. However, no effects were found for well-being or depression. Overall, these longitudinal data show that despite increases in pain and decline in physical health, there was no decline in well-being for women with pain. Future research should examine how older women maintain well-being despite increases in pain and address nursing care of persons with pain in old age.
Session #1223 - Graduate Student Poster Session
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)