Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between resilience and spirituality with self reported levels of suffering among adults with both Type I and Type II Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Participants in this study were recruited from the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) list server, (N = 381). The findings suggested that individuals who reported a higher sense of resiliency and spirituality, perceived support received from family, significant others, and friends, as well as the ability to solve personal feelings and problems more positively than participants who were more resilient and spiritual, experienced less pain related to life interference and less experienced levels of pain suffering. The findings suggest that resilience and spirituality did not have an influence on perceived affective distress. Additionally, individuals who reported being more resilient also had higher levels of perceived spirituality. Group differences between Type I and Type II participants demonstrated that individuals with Type I pain experience less pain severity, pain suffering, and life interference in their lives, which suggests that spirituality, life satisfaction, and life purpose are influential coping factors in individuals with Type I CRPS. Individuals with Type II CRPS experienced pain severity, pain suffering, and life interference in different aspects of their lives (i.e. family and marital functioning, work, and social recreational activities) more frequently than Type I CRPS. Research should continue exploring coping and protective factors at different stages of the pain process, which can contribute further understanding on the pain function and experience of the CRPS population. Mental health and medical providers can use the results of this study to enhance their clinical assessment and approaches to promote higher quality of life. At the community level this information can also help developing and existing programs to recognize the importance of resilient and spiritual coping factors that can impact biopsychosocial functioning.