The Validation of the Patients Endorsement of the Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain (PEB) Scale in Young Adults with Chronic Pain

Mathias Sanyer; Eric L Garland; Antonia Barke; Maria Kleinstäuber

doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000001395

The Validation of the Patients Endorsement of the Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain (PEB) Scale in Young Adults with Chronic Pain

Clin J Pain. 2026 May 5. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001395. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mathias Sanyer¹, Eric L Garland², Antonia Barke³, Maria Kleinstäuber¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Education and Health Sciences, Psychology Department, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA.
² Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion and Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
³ Institute of Psychology, Clinical and Psychological Intervention, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

PMID: 42085199
DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001395

Abstract

Objectives: To validate the Patients Endorsement of the Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain (PEB) Scale in young adults with chronic pain, assessing psychometric properties and associations with pain beliefs and readiness for pain self-management.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 240 young adults with chronic pain (≥3 months) via Prolific. Participants completed the PEB Scale and measures assessing readiness for pain self-management, pain beliefs, psychological variables, and pain characteristics. Reliability, factor structure, convergent/discriminant validity, and incremental validity were all assessed.

Results: In the sample, the PEB Scale had a good internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.88). Factor analysis confirmed an unifactorial structure. Convergent validity was supported through a moderate correlation between the PEB Scale and readiness for pain self-management (PSOCQ Contemplation subscale, r=.32, P=.001). The scale also showed small-moderate correlations with pain interference (r=.25, P=.001) and psychological measures. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed the PEB Scale was associated with an increased chance to be in the contemplation phase (=.042, P<.001) or action/maintenance phase (=.021, P<.05) of pain self-management, when controlling for demographics, pain characteristics, beliefs, and psychological factors.

Discussion: Higher PEB scores were associated with greater contemplation of and engagement in the self-management of chronic pain. The scale appears to be conceptually different from existing pain belief and psychological measures. Limitations include the use of self-report measures, limited effect sizes and demographic homogeneity of our sample. Future studies should test the scale in diverse groups, explore its sensitivity to change, and clinical utility.