Background: According to the activity restriction (AR) model, a potential explanation for the impact of chronic pain on mental illness is that pain contributes to depression by limiting usual activities. This study uses a measure of mental health (flourishing), rather than mental illness to examine associations between pain and activity restrictions.
Data and methods: Data from the 2011/2012 Canadian Community Health Survey were used to study the relationship between pain intensity, pain-related activity prevention, and flourishing mental health in people aged 18 or older. Multivariate logistic regression was used in a sample of 26,429 people with chronic pain to identify significant relationships, while adjusting for potential confounders.
Results: In 2011/2012, an estimated 6 million Canadians aged 18 or older (22%) reported chronic pain. They were less likely to be in flourishing mental health than were people without chronic pain (69% versus 79%). The prevalence of flourishing mental health declined as pain intensity and the number of activities prevented because of pain increased. Pain intensity and pain-related activity prevention were each independently associated with flourishing mental health, even when socio-demographic and health factors were taken into account. Pain-related activity prevention partially mediated the association between pain intensity and flourishing mental health.
Interpretation: The results of this study support the AR model and highlight the importance of both pain intensity and activity restriction in relation to flourishing mental health.
Keywords: Positive Mental Health Continuum — Short Form (MHC-SF); cross-sectional study; health survey.