The Mediating Effect of Perceived Injustice and Pain Catastrophizing in the Relationship of Pain on Fatigue and Sleep in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Objective Multidimensional aspects of pain have raised awareness about cognitive appraisals, such as perceived injustice (PI) and pain catastrophizing (PC). It has been demonstrated that they play an important role in patients' pain experience. However, the mediating effect of these appraisals has not been investigated in breast cancer survivors (BCS), nor have they been related to fatigue and sleep. Methods Cross-sectional data from 128 BCS were analysed by structural path analysis with the aim to examine the mediating effect of PI and PC in the relationship of pain on fatigue and sleep. Results The indirect mediating effects of PI on fatigue (CSI*PI = 0.21; P < .01 and VAS*PI = 1.19; P < .01) and sleep (CSI*PI = 0.31; P < .01 and VAS*PI = 1.74; P < .01) were found significant for both pain measures (Central Sensitization Inventory [CSI] and Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]). PC, on the other hand, only mediated the relationship between pain measured by VAS and fatigue (VAS*PC = 0.80; P = .03). Positive associations were found, indicating that higher pain levels are positively correlated with PI and PC, which go hand in hand with higher levels of fatigue and sleep problems. Conclusions PI is an important mediator in the relationship of pain on fatigue and sleep, while PC is a mediator on fatigue after cancer treatment. These findings highlight that both appraisals are understudied and open new perspectives regarding treatment strategies in BCS.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cancer

Fatigue

Mediation Analysis

Pain

Pain Catastrophizing

Perceived Injustice and Sleep Disorders

quality-of-life

visual analog scale

cognitive-behavioral therapy

response shift

psychological distress

symptom clusters

persistent

pain

experience questionnaire

diagnostic questionnaire

european-organization

Anesthesiology

General & Internal Medicine

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