The Effect of Focusing Manner on Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Pain: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Social Support and Self-efficacy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the sequential mediating effects of social support and self-efficacy in the relationship between focusing manner and quality of life in patients with chronic pain. Methods: The participants were 192 patients with chronic pain who visited a university hospital in D city from August 25, 2020 to October 27, 2020. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 26.0, and mediating effects were evaluated using the PROCESS macro model 6. Results: Social support(B=0.31; 95% CI=0.15~0.51) and self-efficacy(B=0.18; 95% CI=0.07~0.30) had mediating effects on the relationship between focusing manner and quality of life. Focusing manner did not directly affect quality of life; instead, social support and self-efficacy had sequential mediating effects on the relationship between focusing manner and quality of life(B=0.05; 95% CI=0.02~0.11). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that social support and self-efficacy are important factors related to quality of life in patients with chronic pain. It is also expected that enhancing social support and self-efficacy can further improve quality of life among chronic pain patients.