Attachment patterns, self-compassion, and coping strategies in patients with chronic pain.

Introduction: In the recent year's literature, attachment insecurity is described as a vulnerability factor among patients with chronic pain, associated with poor pain coping, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, greater pain intensity, and disability. Self-compassion, on the other hand, is described as a protective factor, associated with lower levels of negative affect, catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety in patients with chronic pain. Methods: In this study, we aim to explore the association between attachment, self-compassion quality, and coping strategies, in patients with chronic pain. Thus, 134 eligible patients with chronic pain were recruited at the certified Results: Results supported our principal hypothesis; securely attached participants reported a significantly higher global self-compassion score compared with insecurely attached ones. Secure attachment and higher self-compassion levels were positively correlated with functional coping strategies and negatively correlated with dysfunctional ones. Discussion: Attachment patterns may be the basis of someone's ability to be compassionate to himself and to cope adequately with a difficult situation, such as a chronic pain condition. An attachment-informed approach to pain management could offer a better understanding of the complexity of this clinical condition and potentially provide appropriate support for both patients and health professionals, aiming to improve the effectiveness of interventions.