The roles of race, sex and cognitions in response to experimental pain

Background: This study reports a multivariate test of sex and race differences in experimental pain, and the degree to which these differences could be uniquely attributable to three levels of cognition: primary appraisals (threat, challenge), secondary appraisals (pain catastrophizing) and/or cognitive processes (mindful observing, non-reactivity). Both the predictive and mediator role of the cognitive variables was of interest. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional experimental design, with the cold pressor task employed as the pain stimulus. The total sample included N\ua0=\ua0355 healthy adults (67% female, 33% male; 70% Caucasian, 30% Asian). Results: Significant sex and race differences on pain tolerance were found, with females and racial minorities reporting less pain tolerance (ps\ua