Social Influences on Peer Judgements about Chronic Pain and Disability

Chronic pain is a leading cause of work absenteeism and disability compensation Previous work demonstrates that patients with chronic illness often seek advice, such as whether or not to pursue disability benefits, from peers with similar health conditions. The current study examined the extent that social factors influence patients with chronic pain (“peers”) when making disability judgements and recommendations for other patients with chronic pain. Participants (n=71) made pain-related and disability ratings for fictional vignette patients that varied in weight (normal vs. obese), fault of accident, and physical work demands. Results of repeated-measures ANOVAs indicated that participants rated patients with obesity, who were not at-fault, and who held a physically demanding job as experiencing more severe pain symptoms and disability and were more likely to recommend they seek disability benefits. Participants who had applied for disability benefits themselves rated patients as more disabled than participants who had not applied for disability. These data suggest that patients with chronic pain are influenced by patient and contextual factors when making pain-related and disability judgements for peers. These judgements may impact patient decision making via peer support programs and online forums.