The Relationship of Mindfulness and Physical and Psychological Functioning among Women with Chronic Low Back Pain: The Mediating Role of Anxiety

Abstract

Background: Mindfulness may mediate the influences of negative cognitions, sensations, and emotions affecting behavior. Besides, mindfulness may affect the experience of pain-related anxiety, and thereby improve other aspects of physical and psychosocial functioning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mediating role of pain-related anxiety between mindfulness and physical and psychosocial functioning in women with chronic low back pain. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 144 women with chronic low back pain were selected by randomize simple sampling method. Mindful attention awareness scale, Hospital anxiety scale, and Health status inventory were used to assess the participants’ status. The data were analyzed by LISREL8.50 software. Findings: The results showed a negative relationship between mindfulness and anxiety and a positive relationship between mindfulness and physical and psychological functioning (P < 0.01). In addition, based on the path analysis model, anxiety was found to mediate the relationship of mindfulness and physical and psychological functioning (P < 0.01). Path analysis showed that the mediation model had adequate indices for physical and psychosocial functioning. Conclusion: Regarding the mediation role of anxiety, the anxiety level should be assessed before starting mindfulness-based treatment methods among women with chronic low back pain. Keywords: Anxiety, Mindfulness, Physical functioning, Psychosocial functioning, Chronic low back pain