Race differences in prayer among Black and White Americans with chronic low back pain
Embargo Date
2027-09-26
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The burden of chronic low back pain (cLBP) in America disproportionately affects Black Americans. This unequal burden may in part, be due to differences in coping, including religious coping. Research examining prayer as a coping strategy for pain has been scant and predominantly focused on White populations. Previous literature has suggested that active prayer, compared to passive prayer, may yield more favorable pain-related outcomes. However, no prior study has examined the relationship between race, type of prayer, and pain outcomes among people with cLBP. Thus, the present study sought to examine racial differences in prayer as a coping strategy for chronic pain between Black and White adults with cLBP and the relationship between prayer and pain among these individuals. In a diverse sample of 29 participants aged 18-85 with non-specific cLBP, the 17-item Pain-related PRAYER Scale (PPRAYERS) was used to assess participants’ engagement in active, passive, and neutral prayer to cope with pain. Pain intensity and interference were assessed using the 11-item Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Results indicated that Black participants endorse more frequent use of active (p=0.02; d=0.92), passive (p=0.01; d=1.05), and neutral prayer (p=0.01; d=0.72) compared to White participants. There was also a significant race difference in pain intensity (p=0.04; d=0.75), such that Black participants reported greater pain intensity than White participants. However, there were no differences in pain interference (p=0.29; d=0.23). Furthermore, active prayer, passive prayer, and neutral prayer were not significantly correlated with pain intensity (ρ=0.22, p>0.05; ρ=0.31, p>0.05; ρ=0.16, p>0.05) or pain interference (ρ=0.10, p>0.05; ρ=0.19, p>0.05; ρ=0.06, p>0.05). This study provides novel insights into racial differences in the experience of pain.
Description
2024