Primary data on the study "Chronic pain is associated with reduced savoring of aesthetic experiences"

Cognitive Psychology

Authors(s) / Creator(s)

Weigand, Rosalie
Moosmayer, Annika
Jacobsen, Thomas

Abstract

Aesthetic experiences have previously been associated with positive emotions and positive effects on health. In this context, the concept of aesthetic savoring refers to a cognitive form of emotion regulation that serves to sustain and extend positive emotional experiences and is considered conducive to health and well-being. Chronic pain has been linked at the behavioral level to decreased reward seeking. This is the first study to examine the relationship between chronic pain and aesthetic pleasure seeking behavior. An anonymous cross-sectional survey in a large nonclinical sample of opera, theater, and cabaret attendees is reported (n = 322). Two items were used to assess aesthetic savoring as well as chronic pain. We found a strong negative association (r = -.547) between chronic pain and aesthetic savoring. Overall, this finding contributes to a better understanding of the impact of chronic pain in humans and state-dependent differences in aesthetic experience.

Persistent Identifier

https://doi.org/10.5160/psychdata.wdre21pr07

Year of Publication

2021

Funding

Citation

Weigand, R., Moosmayer, A. & Jacobsen, T. (2021). Primary data on the study "Chronic pain is associated with reduced savoring of aesthetic experiences" (Version 1.0.0) [Data and Documentation]. Trier: Research Data Center at ZPID. https://doi.org/10.5160/psychdata.wdre21pr07

Study Description

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

Chronic pain is negatively related to the savoring of aesthetic experiences.

Research Design:

Fully standardised survey instrument; repeated measurements

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

Field experiment; Data collection took place over 11 time points in an opera house, a theater, and a cabaret. The subjects were made aware of the study by a banner and after the performance were asked to answer two items whose order and scale polarity were randomized.

Chronic pain was assessed with one item of the Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire. The item “In the past 6 months, on average, how intense was your pain?” was answered on an 11-point rating scale ranging from 0 = no pain to 10 = pain as bad as it could be. Savoring was measured by the item ” I savored today’s show,” which was answered on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 = not at all to 7 = very much

Data Collection Method:

Survey in the presence of an investigator

Single target
Paper and pencil

Population:

322 Opera, theater and cabaret visitors

Survey Time Period:

Sample:

Convenience sample

Gender Distribution:

Age Distribution:

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany

Subject Recruitment:

The participants were made aware of the study with the help of a banner or approached directly by our team, consisting of two men and two women. We approached men and women as well as younger and older people alternately.

Sample Size:

322 individuals

Return/Drop Out:

wdre21pr07_readme.txt

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