Progress Toward Meaning-as-Goal and Its Association with Pain, Functioning, and Global Meaning and Purpose Among Veterans with Co-occurring Chronic Pain and PTSD

Background

Co-occurring chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with poorer physical and mental functioning and well-being. Treatments often incorporate goal-setting around personally meaningful behaviors; however, it is unclear whether intentionally focusing on improving meaning and purpose in life (i.e., meaning-as-goal) may also serve as a helpful treatment target. The objective of the current study is to determine whether reported progress toward meaning-as-goal at 6 months is associated with pain severity and interference, physical and mental health functioning, and global meaning and purpose at 6- and 12-months.

Methods

Data were collected as part of an evaluation effort focused on VA’s Whole Health System implementation efforts. VA electronic health records were linked to survey data across three time points (baseline, 6 months, and 12 months) from Veterans with both chronic pain and PTSD across 18 VA sites. A total of 1341 Veterans met inclusion criteria (mean age = 62, SD = 11.7).

Results

Regression analyses showed that progress toward meaning-as-goal was significantly associated with all 6-month variables, with standardized coefficients ranging from − 0.14 (pain severity and interference) to .37 (global meaning and purpose), in addition to all 12-month variables, with standardized coefficients ranging from − .13 (pain severity and interference) to .31 (global meaning and purpose).

Conclusions

Efforts to intentionally promote meaning and purpose as part of evidence-based treatment for chronic pain and PTSD may lead to decreased pain and improved physical and mental health functioning and global meaning and purpose. With coefficients ranging from small to moderate effect sizes, more work is needed to better understand how best to maximize meaning-related goals.