Self-Efficacy Is Associated with Pain, Functioning, and Coping in Patients with Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder Pain

Aims: To examine the psychometric characteristics of a measure of self-efficacy for managing temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to determine whether scores on this measure were related to pain, disability, and psychological distress in patients with chronic TMD pain. Methods: Patients seeking treatment for chronic TMD pain (n = 156, 87% female, mean age = 37 years) completed mea-sures assessing pain, disability, mental health, pain-coping strate-gies, and self-efficacy for managing their pain. Results: The self-efficacy measure, which was adapted from arthritis research, demonstrated good psychometric characteristics (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91, minimal floor and ceiling effects, and validity). Greater self-efficacy was associated with significantly (P < .05) lower levels of pain, disability, and psychological distress. Self-effi-cacy remained significantly associated with disability and mental health measures even after controlling for demographic variables and pain intensity. In addition, patients with higher self-efficacy reported significantly (P < .05) greater use of an active, adaptive chronic pain-coping strategy (task persistence) and less use of a passive, maladaptive chronic pain-coping strategy (rest). Conclusion: Self-efficacy for managing pain appears to be impor-tant in the adjustment of patients with chronic TMD pain. Research is needed to determine whether treatments designed to increase self-efficacy improve TMD patient outcomes.

chronic pain; coping strategies; disability; self-efficacy; temporomandibular disorders

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