An application of the biopsychosocial model for pain in Canadian Veterans Life After Service Studies 2019 survey

Introduction

A “biopsychosocial model” considers how these three factors simultaneously contribute to one’s overall well-being:

1. biological factors – such as age, physical health and genetics;
2. psychological factors – such as mental wellness, emotions and thoughts; and
3. social factors – such as family relationships, economic status, social interactions, and access to healthcare services.

What is this research about?

Previous research has shown that Canadian Veterans are much more likely to experience chronic pain than members of the general population. This research looks at the application of a proposed biopsychosocial model and whether if it can be a useful approach in helping us better understand chronic pain among Canadian Veterans.

What did the researchers do?

The researchers identified biological, psychological, and social data captured in the 2019 Life After Service Studies (LASS) survey to establish a biopsychosocial model and examine if there were predictors of chronic pain among Canadian Veterans. Military service information (e.g. length of service and rank at release) and demographic information were also included in the model to control for differences in age, sex, and marital status.

What did the researchers find?

When examining the biological, psych¬ological and social factors from the 2019 LASS survey together and how they interacted, there were several that were related simultaneously to the likelihood of having chronic pain. For example, the following factors were significantly different in those with pain compared to those without it:

• age at release
• education
• length of service
• anxiety
• hypervigilance
• heavy drinker
• arthritis
• back pain
• migraine
• social support
• labour status
• life stress
• suicidal ideation

These findings suggest that the biopsychosocial model is a promising approach to better understanding potential causes of chronic pain in Canadian Veterans. This could ultimately support enhanced prevention, interventions and supports.

Source

Julián Reyes-Vélez, Erin Buchanan, Jeffrey Pavlacic, Jill Sweet & Lisa Garland Baird. An application of the biopsychosocial model for pain in Canadian Veterans Life After Service Studies 2019 survey. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. February 2024. doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2023-0025