Editorial: Resilience Resources in Chronic Pain Patients: The Path to Adaptation.

Abstract

Individual differences affect the behavior of individuals in response to chronic pain, and such behaviors can lead to either disability or capacity (Ramírez-Maestre and Esteve, 2013). Modern theories of adaptation necessitate a greater emphasis on individual differences in behavioral patterns oriented toward meaningful function despite pain, as well as effective recovery from the negative impacts of pain. Recent empirical studies have acknowledged the positive influence of resilience resources on adjustment to chronic pain (Sturgeon and Zautra, 2016; Hemington et al., 2017; Arewasikporn et al., 2018; Esteve et al., 2018; Ramírez-Maestre et al., 2019). According to these investigations, resilience has emerged as a personal resource that increases the patients' capacity to manage pain effectively. Thus, despite having chronic pain, a resilient individual will be able to experience positive emotions and maintain a higher level of functioning. Patients with these positive characteristics may use more effective coping strategies, have better goal-adjustment, demonstrate greater levels of flexibility and acceptance across situations, and maintain an appropriate functioning level. The studies collected in the present Research Topic are good examples of novel investigation in this context.