Abstract

This study explored the differences and similarities in pain perception reported in elderly African Americans and elderly Caucasian subjects by addressing the question of whether ethno-cultural background of clients affect their pain perception. The literature was reviewed in the areas of cultural influences on pain perception, the elderly and pain perception, the association of pain perception to past experiences, and the meaning of pain. The Gate Control Pain Theory emphasizing the role of psychological variables in pain perception and behavioral responses to pain was the basis of the theoretical framework (Melzack & Wall, 1965). The sample consisted of 64 elderly subjects--32 African Americans and 32 Caucasian subjects--who were interviewed at a clinic in the Southwestern part of the United States (May-July, 1997). The McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire was administered to clients volunteering to be in the study. Descriptive statistics were computed on socio-demographic items as well as on the characteristics of pain perception described by the subjects. African American subjects were 34.4% males and 65.6% females; and Caucasian subjects were 31.2% males and 68.8% females. The age of the subjects ranged from 61 years to 92 years old, The mean age for African Americans was 69 years and 70 years for Caucasians. The study revealed that both groups chose the word Nagging most frequently to describe their pain. A 2 x 2 analysis of variance was used to determine the impact of ethnicity and gender on pain perception as well as the interactive impact of ethnicity and gender on pain perception. There was a statistically significant difference between elderly African American and elderly Caucasian subjects in terms of the present pain intensity (PPI) (F = 6.30, df = 1, p =.015), establishing that these two ethnic groups differed in PPI. However, the respondents' gender did not significantly affect their PPI. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation was used to evaluate the strength of the relationship between ethnicity, gender, present pain intensity (PPI) and pain rating index (PRI). There was a moderate correlation (r =.36, p =.01) between present pain intensity (PPI) and ethnicity. The study indicated cultural universality as well as cultural diversity in pain perception between elderly African Americans and elderly Caucasian subjects. These findings further serve as the basis for understanding this culturally diverse groups of clients.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 9823372; ProQuest document ID: 304407574. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Dr. Janice M. Johnson-Umezulike, DNS, RN

Sigma Membership

Epsilon Nu at-Large

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Cultural Influences on Pain, Elderly with Pain, Influences on Perception

Advisors

Bracewell, Mervell

Degree

Doctoral-Other

Degree Grantor

Louisiana State University

Degree Year

1997

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2020-07-31

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