The moderating role of extraversion in the relationship between trait mindfulness and pain adaptation
Chen Lu, Nele Berner, Lena Hagel, Nils Jannik Heukamp, Vera Moliadze, Frauke Nees
Frontiers in Pain Research April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2025.1534339 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Healthy participants, mean age 23.29 ± 2.052 years |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Neither trait mindfulness nor extraversion alone correlated with or predicted pain adaptation, though the two traits were positively correlated with each other. The authors report a significant interaction between them, suggesting extraversion moderates the relationship between trait mindfulness and pain adaptation, and propose that these traits may act as protective factors in chronic pain development. |
Abstract
IntroductionPain habituation, the reduction in response to repeated painful stimuli, is a positive adaptation process, while pain sensitization is linked to chronic pain. Traits like mindfulness and extraversion affect pain processing, but their influence on pain adaptation and potential interactions remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the relationship between trait mindfulness, extraversion, and pain adaptation, assessing their predictive value and any interaction effects.Materials and methodFifty-two healthy participants, mean age = 23.29 ± 2.052 years, completed questionnaires measuring trait mindfulness and extraversion, followed by an experimental pain stimulation to assess pain adaptation. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to explore the relationships between traits and pain adaptation, and potential interaction effects.ResultTrait mindfulness positively correlated with extraversion, but neither trait showed a significant correlation with pain adaptation. In addition, neither trait mindfulness nor extraversion significantly predicted pain adaptation. However, a significant interaction was found between the two traits, suggesting that extraversion moderates the relationship between trait mindfulness and pain adaptation.ConclusionTrait mindfulness and extraversion are interrelated traits whose interaction affects pain habituation and the extent to which individuals with higher levels of trait mindfulness exhibit greater pain adaptation appears to depend on their levels of extraversion. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness and extraversion may act as protective factors in chronic pain development. Mindfulness-based interventions may be particularly effective for individuals with specific personality traits. This can inform further research to explore these implications for pain management.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 16
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- The moderation of Mindfulness‐based stress reduction effects by trait mindfulness: Results from a randomized controlled trial Journal of Clinical Psychology December 22, 2010
- Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences June 1, 2016
- Pain Attenuation through Mindfulness is Associated with Decreased Cognitive Control and Increased Sensory Processing in the Brain Cerebral Cortex December 15, 2011
- Dynamic processes of mindfulness-based alterations in pain perception. Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023
and 11 more in the library