Prior research has demonstrated a strong positive relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and pain tolerance. However, the pathways through which self-efficacy beliefs may be manipulated and...Show morePrior research has demonstrated a strong positive relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and pain tolerance. However, the pathways through which self-efficacy beliefs may be manipulated and affect pain tolerance are not clear. The current study aims to examine the effect that self-efficacy beliefs have on pain tolerance ratings, as assessed by a cold-pressor test (CPT). Secondly, whether self-efficacy can be altered through verbal suggestions is examined. Healthy participants (N = 17) were randomly assigned into a low self-efficacy group (Low-SE group) and a high self-efficacy (High-SE group) and participated in a CPT, after self-efficacy manipulation. Differences on pain tolerance and the manipulation check question, across the groups were examined with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Baseline measurements of self-efficacy were administered and analysed with ANOVA. Although participants in the High-SE group showed higher pain tolerance ratings (M = 43.23, SD = 19.09) compared to those in the Low-SE group (M = 41.58, SD = 23.36), the difference between the groups was not significant, p = .883. Participants in the High-SE group (M = 5.24, SD = 1.89) had a lower score on the manipulation check question, compared to those in the Low-SE group (M = 5.62, SD = 1.71). However, the difference was not statistically significant, p = .666. No statistically significant baseline differences have been found between the groups. Further research is needed, to determine the mechanisms through which perceived control and affective responses on pain experience may intermediate the relationship between self-efficacy and pain tolerance, while contributing to self-efficacy manipulation.Show less
A dysfunction in conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is believed to be an important mechanism in chronic pain. Few studies investigated the role of expectations in pain modulation, while there are...Show moreA dysfunction in conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is believed to be an important mechanism in chronic pain. Few studies investigated the role of expectations in pain modulation, while there are indications that pain sensitivity can be affected by expectations. The present study examined whether expectations modulated the effect of conditioned pain stimulation. Since earlier research indicated gender differences and physiological stress levels might play a role in CPM as a response to positive or negative information, the present study will take gender differences and objective stress levels (heartrate and skin conductance levels) into account. Healthy participants (57 of each sex) between 18 – 35 years of age were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: 1) participants were told positive expectations, that holding the non-dominant hand in a cold-water bath will decrease the pain intensity of the test stimulus (analgesia group), 2) participants received the information that the conditioned stimuli will increase the pain intensity of the test stimulus (hyperalgesia group), 3) participants received no information about the effect (control condition). Results were analyzed with a mixed ANOVA. The results show that positive or negative expectations modulated the CPM effect compared to the control condition (p = .006). This effect was not dependent on gender. Conditioning stimulation increased skin conductance levels, but not heart rate in the hyperalgesia group. Higher skin conductance levels as a response to negative information were more visible in males compared to females. The present study suggests that inhibitory CPM can be influenced by verbal suggestions, and that a dysfunction of descending inhibitory pathways seems not the only possible cause of a reduced inhibitory CPM. Future research could examine if positive expectations can influence the altered CPM efficacy in patients with chronic pain.Show less
Objectives. The current study aims to examine whether four burnout-engagement cluster groups could be identified based on burnout and engagement dimension scores, and to investigate whether these...Show moreObjectives. The current study aims to examine whether four burnout-engagement cluster groups could be identified based on burnout and engagement dimension scores, and to investigate whether these four cluster groups differed significantly in terms of job demands and job resources. Methods. A cross-sectional study, involving 877 professionals working at the Emergency Department, was carried out in 19 hospitals in the Netherlands in 2017. Burnout was assessed by the Utrecht Burnout Scale, work engagement with the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and job demands and job resources by the Leiden Quality of Work Questionnaire for nurses and doctors, and the Quality of Labor Questionnaire. Results. K-means cluster analysis revealed that four groups could be identified with varying levels of burnout complaints and engagement. However, CH-index showed that two main clusters, the burnout and engagement group, were best at describing the data. Subsequent MANOVA analysis revealed that the groups differed in terms of job demands and resources. Additionally, it was found that the engaged group experienced high resources and low demands compared to the burnout group with low resources and high demands. Conclusion. This study found evidence for a distinction between the burnout-engagement cluster groups regarding the burnout and engagement dimension scores. Furthermore, the findings provide confirmation that the burnout and engagement group significantly differed in terms of job demands and job resources. Future research should focus on various perceptions of Emergency Department professionals and longitudinal research.Show less
