Social chronic pain: the affective response to social exclusion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social exclusion, whether due to physical isolation or the subjective perception of being ignored and unwanted, threatens the fundamental human need for social belonging and is experienced as social pain. While its detrimental effects on mood disorders are well documented, its impact on individuals living with chronic pain remains largely unexplored. This study investigates emotional responses to social exclusion in individuals with chronic pain (CPs) compared to healthy controls (HCs), considering the role of comorbid mood disturbances. It also examines whether behavioral and social functioning, across cognitive and psychological domains, modulate the experience and impact of social exclusion.

Methods

We recruited 38 CPs and 38 HCs, grouped according to validated

SUBMITTER: Telesca A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12781768 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature