• Natasha L Gallant and Thomas Hadjistavropoulos.
• Department of Psychology and Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• J Pain. 2017 Apr 1; 18 (4): 456-467.

AbstractThe role of various forms of social support (including the mere presence of another person) in pain has been studied in children and younger adults, but parallel studies involving older persons have not been conducted. In this investigation, older adults (N = 100) took part in a series of experimental pain tasks in each of the following conditions: alone, in the presence of a stranger, and in the presence of a family member. Indices of pain (threshold, tolerance, intensity, unpleasantness, facial expressions) and facial expressions of emotion were analyzed. Facial expressions of pain and happiness were more prominent when a family member was present. In the presence of a stranger, pain was reported as less unpleasant and facial expressions of fear were more frequent. In examining sex differences, male participants reported higher pain tolerance and female participants displayed more prominent facial expressions of pain. Moreover, facial expressions of neutral states and happiness were more frequent among female participants, whereas facial expressions of anger were more frequent among male participants. Results show that the presence of others influences the experience and expression of pain in older persons.Copyright © 2016 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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