Correlations among general stress, family environment, psychological distress, and pain experience.

For 15 subjects with chronic low back pain and 15 matched healthy controls analysis of scores on Life Experiences Survey (general stress), Family Environment Scale (family relationships), Beck Depression Inventory (psychological distress), and McGill Pain Questionnaire (pain experience) indicated that the scores on environmental stressors, general stress, and psychological distress were higher for the group with pain. They experienced more negative life events and were more depressed. Certain family characteristics (decreased scores on Cohesion, Independence, Organization, and increased scores on Conflict) were unique to that group. Finally, certain family variables which did not differentiate between the groups were associated with the pain experience.