An experimental investigation of the role of perceived justice in acute pain

Belief in a Just World and Emotional Intelligence in Subjective Well-Being of Cancer Patients

The study of coping strategies has provided valuable insights about the process of helping cancer patients adapt to their disease. However, new approaches must be explored to increase the knowledge of this adjustment. In this study, we will analyze the relationship between patients' psychological well-being and quality of life and less well-studied constructs such as the belief in a just world (BJW) and emotional intelligence (EI). Sixty-eight cancer patients (35 men, 33 women; mean age 53.5 years; range: 20-86) were asked about their personal and general BJW, EI, Perception of Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression. Different multiple regression analyses showed that patients' personal BJW negatively predicted their anxiety (p < .05) and a trend to a better quality of life. In addition, patients with high scores in the Mood Repair subfactor of EI showed better quality of life (p < .05), and those with higher Attention to Feelings exhibited more Anxiety (p < .01) and a trend to more Depression. These results underline the need to take into consideration new factors, such as BJW and EI, in clinical interventions for cancer patients.

Catastrophizing Mediates the Relationship Between the Personal Belief in a Just World and Pain Outcomes Among Chronic Pain Support Group Attendees

Health-related research suggests the belief in a just world can act as a personal resource that protects against the adverse effects of pain and illness. However, currently, little is known about how this belief, particularly in relation to one's own life, might influence pain. Consistent with the suggestions of previous research, the present study undertook a secondary data analysis to investigate pain catastrophizing as a mediator of the relationship between the personal just world belief and chronic pain outcomes in a sample of chronic pain support group attendees. Partially supporting the hypotheses, catastrophizing was negatively correlated with the personal just world belief and mediated the relationship between this belief and pain and disability, but not distress. Suggestions for future research and intervention development are made.

“It’s Not Fair”

Social justice appraisals refer to evaluations about fairness. These judgments are particularly pertinent in the experience of an undeserved fate, such as the suffering caused by a chronic health complaint. Published research examining the implications of these appraisals for adjustment to long-term painful conditions has emerged only recently, focused in two areas of investigation. One area shows that perceived injustice for pain may be a vulnerability factor that can block adjustment. The second area shows that maintaining some sense of justice in life, despite personal adversity, might protect psychological health when people are in pain. The review discusses this research and identifies key reactions to perceived injustice in the context of chronic pain. We call for investigations to synthesize this research, specifically to establish mediators and moderators of varied justice appraisals, to examine the relationships between core justice beliefs and injustice appraisals, and to identify drivers of responses to injustice. Finally, we consider interventions for those pain sufferers struggling to cope with perceived injustice.