'Barbed wire wrapped around my feet': Metaphor use in chronic pain.

Munday, I; Newton-John, T; Kneebone, I

'Barbed wire wrapped around my feet': Metaphor use in chronic pain.

Munday, I Newton-John, T

Kneebone, I

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: British journal of health psychology, 2020, 25, (3), pp. 814-830
Issue Date:: 2020-09

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Munday, I
dc.contributor.author	Newton-John, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4219-4985
dc.contributor.author	Kneebone, I https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3324-7264
dc.date.accessioned	2021-05-04T22:54:43Z
dc.date.available	2021-05-04T22:54:43Z
dc.date.issued	2020-09
dc.identifier.citation	British journal of health psychology, 2020, 25, (3), pp. 814-830
dc.identifier.issn	1359-107X
dc.identifier.issn	2044-8287
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/148615
dc.description.abstract	<h4>Objectives</h4>As there is no objective test for pain, sufferers rely on language to communicate their pain experience. Pain description frequently takes the form of metaphor; however, there has been limited research in this area. This study thus sought to extend previous findings on metaphor use in specific pain subgroups to a larger, heterogeneous chronic pain sample, utilizing a systematic method of metaphor analysis.<h4>Design</h4>Conceptual metaphor theory was utilized to explore the metaphors used by those with chronic pain via qualitative methodology.<h4>Methods</h4>An anonymous online survey was conducted which asked for the descriptions and metaphors people use to describe their pain. Systematic metaphor analysis was used to classify and analyse the metaphors used into specific metaphor source domains.<h4>Results</h4>Participants who reported chronic pain completed the survey (N = 247, age 19-78, M = 43.69). Seven overarching metaphor source domains were found. These were coded as Causes of Physical Damage, Common Pain Experiences, Electricity, Insects, Rigidity, Bodily Misperception, and Death and Mortality.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Participants utilized a wide variety of metaphors to describe their pain. The most common descriptions couched chronic pain in terms of physical damage. A better understanding of pain metaphors may have implications for improved health care communication and provide targets for clinical interventions.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation.ispartof	British journal of health psychology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/bjhp.12432
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1608 Sociology, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	Clinical Psychology
dc.subject.mesh	Foot
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Comprehension
dc.subject.mesh	Metaphor
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Comprehension
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Foot
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Metaphor
dc.title	'Barbed wire wrapped around my feet': Metaphor use in chronic pain.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	25
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1608 Sociology
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1608 Sociology
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-05-04T22:54:41Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	25
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Objectives

As there is no objective test for pain, sufferers rely on language to communicate their pain experience. Pain description frequently takes the form of metaphor; however, there has been limited research in this area. This study thus sought to extend previous findings on metaphor use in specific pain subgroups to a larger, heterogeneous chronic pain sample, utilizing a systematic method of metaphor analysis.

Design

Conceptual metaphor theory was utilized to explore the metaphors used by those with chronic pain via qualitative methodology.

Methods

An anonymous online survey was conducted which asked for the descriptions and metaphors people use to describe their pain. Systematic metaphor analysis was used to classify and analyse the metaphors used into specific metaphor source domains.

Results

Participants who reported chronic pain completed the survey (N = 247, age 19-78, M = 43.69). Seven overarching metaphor source domains were found. These were coded as Causes of Physical Damage, Common Pain Experiences, Electricity, Insects, Rigidity, Bodily Misperception, and Death and Mortality.

Conclusions

Participants utilized a wide variety of metaphors to describe their pain. The most common descriptions couched chronic pain in terms of physical damage. A better understanding of pain metaphors may have implications for improved health care communication and provide targets for clinical interventions.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/148615