Pain as an assault on the self: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychological impact of chronic benign low back pain

Smith, Jonathan A. and Osborn, M. (2007) Pain as an assault on the self: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychological impact of chronic benign low back pain. Psychology and Health 22 (5), pp. 517-534. ISSN 0887-0446.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/14768320600941756

Abstract

This paper presents an in-depth, idiographic study illustrating how chronic benign low back pain may have a serious debilitating impact on the sufferer's sense of self. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six patients and the resultant transcripts subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. The analysis points to the powerful ways in which chronic pain has negative impact on patients’ self and identity. This impact is made worse in the public arena. Some of the participants describe how the ensuing derogatory self image also seems to lead to their directing negative affect towards other people. The results section gives a detailed account of these processes at work. The results are then considered in relation to relevant constructs in the extant literature, including work on illness and identity, shame and acceptance.

Metadata

Item Type:	Article
School:	Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
Depositing User:	Sarah Hall
Date Deposited:	24 Feb 2020 14:49
Last Modified:	02 Aug 2023 17:58
URI:	https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/31068

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