Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health Depression

Having your pain invalidated is associated with increased shame and, in turn, an increased risk of depression

by Beth Ellwood
February 23, 2022
in Depression
(Image by press ???? and ⭐ from Pixabay)

(Image by press ???? and ⭐ from Pixabay)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay on top of the latest psychology findings: Subscribe now!

Findings from the journal Frontiers in Psychology shed light on the link between pain invalidation and risk of depression. The study found that participants who felt invalidated in their pain experienced greater shame, and in turn, greater symptoms of depression.

Pain is a subjective experience that is imperceptible to others. Because of this, people who are experiencing pain often have their pain downplayed by others around them, including nurses and doctors. This invalidation can show up in a few different ways. In some cases, an outsider acknowledges a person’s pain experience but does not believe that it requires support, and in other cases, an outsider might not believe that the pain exists at all.

Importantly, having one’s pain invalidated can lead to stigmatization and may even exacerbate pain severity. Pain invalidation has also been associated with a range of poor mental health outcomes. In particular, pain invalidation has been repeatedly tied to depression, and study authors Brandon L. Boring and his team say this may have something to do with shame.

Shame is a feeling of inadequacy, self-consciousness, and low self-worth. Pain on its own has been associated with shame, and Boring and colleagues suggest that these feelings may be intensified when pain is being dismissed by others. The researchers conducted a study to explore the relationship between pain invalidation, depression, and shame among a sample of college students.

A total of 478 students were involved in the study. Most (328) participants were female, 139 were male, 10 did not disclose their gender, and 1 identified as “other”. None of the students were currently suffering from chronic pain. The participants answered questionnaires that assessed pain invalidation from three domains — friends, family, and medical professionals. The questions prompted students to consider how each of these types of people had reacted to the student’s pain experiences in the past year. The respondents also completed assessments of shame and depression.

The prevalence of pain invalidation was remarkably high among the students. Nearly all participants (99.4%) reported at least some pain invalidation from family members. Similarly, 98.9% reported pain invalidation from friends, and 95.5% reported pain invalidation from doctors. As expected, pain invalidation from any of these sources was significantly associated with both shame and depression.

Shame fully mediated the relationships between each source of pain invalidation and depression. In other words, having one’s pain invalidated by others — whether by friends, family, or medical professionals — predicted greater feelings of shame, and in turn, elevated symptoms of depression. Notably, these effects were consistent among men and women, except for pain invalidation from doctors which was trending in the same direction but not significant among men.

These findings suggest that shame is a crucial mechanism through which pain invalidation encourages depression. “When other people invalidate a person’s pain, they may communicate that the person in pain is not worthy of empathy or support,” the researchers explain. “This in turn may cause the person suffering from pain to question their own subjective state and their value as a human, creating feelings of shame, and inadequacy.” These feelings, combined with the continued experience of pain, may then lead to depression.

The findings are especially troubling, the study authors say, given evidence that depression increases the likelihood that acute pain becomes chronic pain. They say their study is unique in that it focused on acute pain that was not experimentally induced in the lab, revealing that even healthy young adults experience pain invalidation related to acute pain. However, in order to extend the clinical implications, a similar study should be conducted among people experiencing chronic pain.

The researchers discuss ways for people to improve their reactions to others experiencing pain. “Listening to the pain reported by patients and validating their subjective pain experience may foster interpersonal trust between patients and providers and improve pain outcomes,” Boring and his colleagues say. “Furthermore, broader cultural understanding about the subjective nature of pain and the importance of social support for those experiencing pain may protect against the mutually reinforcing depression-pain cycle.”

The study, “Shame Mediates the Relationship Between Pain Invalidation and Depression”, was authored by Brandon L. Boring, Kaitlyn T. Walsh, Namrata Nanavaty, and Vani A. Mathur.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin22ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

New study claims antidepressant withdrawal is less common than thought. But there’s a big problem
Depression

Longer antidepressant use linked to more severe, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms, study finds

July 1, 2025

A new study finds that the longer people take antidepressants, the more likely they are to face severe, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms—raising questions about current prescribing practices and the support available for those trying to stop the medication.

Read moreDetails
Researchers identify neural mechanism behind memory prioritization
Depression

Older adults who feel criticized by loved ones are more likely to develop depression

June 30, 2025

A new study shows that even mild criticism from loved ones can increase the risk of depression in older adults. The findings suggest that reducing negativity in close relationships may protect mental health in later life—especially for women.

Read moreDetails
Neuroscientists identify a reversible biological mechanism behind drug-induced cognitive deficits
Depression

New study links intermittent fasting to improved mood via brain’s dopamine system

June 27, 2025

A new study suggests that intermittent fasting may reduce symptoms of depression by activating dopamine D1 receptors in the brain’s prefrontal cortex. The findings point to a potential non-drug approach for mood disorders rooted in brain signaling.

Read moreDetails
Loss of empathy in frontotemporal dementia traced to weakened brain signals
Depression

New neuroscience research reveals brain antioxidant deficit in depression

June 22, 2025

A new meta-analysis suggests that people with major depressive disorder have lower levels of the brain antioxidant glutathione in the occipital cortex. The findings highlight a possible role for oxidative stress in depression and point to potential treatment targets.

Read moreDetails
Gut-brain connection: Proinflammatory bacteria linked to hippocampal changes in depression
Depression

Scientists reveal a surprising link between depression and microbes in your mouth

June 21, 2025

Lower diversity in the oral microbiome was linked to higher depressive symptoms in a large U.S. sample, with especially strong associations among men and non-Hispanic Whites. Differences in microbial composition were also observed between depressed and non-depressed individuals.

Read moreDetails
Borderline personality and depression: New findings show gender differences in adolescents
Anxiety

New research links heatwaves to depression and anxiety in adolescents, with some at higher risk

June 19, 2025

A new study finds that teens exposed to stronger heatwaves are more likely to experience mental health symptoms, raising concerns about the psychological impact of climate change on youth.

Read moreDetails
Some dark personality traits may help buffer against depression, new psychology research suggests
Dark Triad

Some dark personality traits may help buffer against depression, new psychology research suggests

June 17, 2025

Dark traits like narcissism and psychopathy are often associated with dysfunction, but new findings reveal that certain facets—especially Machiavellian agency—might help people manage stress and depression more effectively through adaptive coping strategies.

Read moreDetails
Poor sleep may shrink brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, study suggests
Depression

Low-carb diets linked to reduced depression symptoms — but there’s a catch

June 14, 2025

Low-carb diets rich in healthy fats and plant proteins are linked to fewer depression symptoms, according to new research. But low-carb diets high in saturated fat and animal protein show no mental health advantage.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Could creatine slow cognitive decline? Mouse study reveals promising effects on brain aging

ChatGPT and “cognitive debt”: New study suggests AI might be hurting your brain’s ability to think

Frequent dreams and nightmares surged worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic

Vagus nerve signals influence food intake more in higher socio-economic groups

People who think “everyone agrees with me” are more likely to support populism

What is the most attractive body fat percentage for men? New research offers an answer

Longer antidepressant use linked to more severe, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms, study finds

New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy