Longitudinal associations of physical and emotional distress tolerance with pain intensity and pain-related disability in United States combat veterans.

U.S. veterans experience chronic pain and physical and emotional stressors at a high rate. To inform intervention targets for chronic pain it is vital to understand the longitudinal associations of protective factors (e.g., distress tolerance and social support) with pain-related functioning among this population. This study assessed the longitudinal associations among distress tolerance (physical and emotional), social support, pain intensity, and pain-related disability in a sample of 345 U.S. post-9/11 combat veterans. Baseline and one-year follow-up assessments of self-reported pain intensity (numeric rating scale), pain-related disability (Pain Disability Inventory), physical and emotional distress tolerance (Distress Tolerance Inventory), pre- and post-deployment social support (Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory), age, and education (in years) were collected (68.3% male, average age = 38.94 years [SD = 9.83]). Bayesian linear regression was used to predict pain intensity and pain-related disability at one year by age, education, pain intensity, social support, and physical and emotional distress tolerance reported at baseline. Results indicated baseline pain intensity, emotional (but not physical) distress tolerance, post-deployment social support, and age predicted follow-up pain-related disability (total R