@inproceedings{01KW93J5G73MXBPMS082FQYAXB,
  abstract     = {{Introduction: Stress and pain are two adaptive mechanisms fundamental to human behavior and cognition. They are bidirectionally related to each other and several factors modifying this interaction were identified. However, how stable individual differences in pain-related distress, such as individual dispositions for pain catastrophizing, and person-specific pain sensitivities are associated with the strength of stress responses remains unclear. This preregistered study closes this gap by investigating how trait pain-related distress and changes in pain sensitivity relate to stress response strength. 
Methods: Trait pain-related distress was assessed in 148 healthy males with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, and the Fear of Pain Questionnaire. Baseline blood pressure, pulse rate, α-amylase levels, and cortisol levels were acquired as well as initial heat pain thresholds and tolerances. Afterwards, participants were randomly assigned either to a group that underwent the Maastricht Acute Stress Task or to a control group performing the placebo version of this task. Finally, all stress indicators and experimental pain outcomes were reassessed after the task.  
Results: Individuals with lower kinesiophobia demonstrated higher stress-induced increases in α-amylase. Furthermore, stress-induced changes in pain sensitivity showed high variability, and no link emerged between these changes and the stress response. Finally, among individuals with a stronger tendency to catastrophize or fear pain, larger increases in α-amylase were associated with larger post-stressor increases in pain threshold, indicating reduced pain sensitivity. 
Process evaluation: Limitations of our work include deviations from the planned sample size due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a practical limit for assessing pain tolerance (maximum temperature: 49 °C to avoid harm), which constrains interpretation of stress-related changes in pain tolerance. However, the finally achieved power was acceptable/good (i.e., power of .93).
Conclusion: Our study suggests that stable individual differences may influence the stress–pain link beyond physiology. This underscores the importance of considering trait differences in future research with the ultimate goal of tailoring prevention and treatment for patients with chronic pain.}},
  articleno    = {{1A.1}},
  author       = {{Vyverman, Joren and Timmers, Inge and Meeuwis, Stefanie H and Smeets, Tom and Hilger, Kirsten}},
  booktitle    = {{Pain Science in Motion VI Congress 2026, Abstracts}},
  keywords     = {{Stress,pain,Individual differences,pain-related distress}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Brussels, Belgium}},
  pages        = {{1A.1:15--1A.1:15}},
  title        = {{Individual differences in stress-pain responses : the dynamics of a complex interaction}},
  url          = {{https://www.painscienceinmotion.com/_files/ugd/f996a6_6b4098e4750144de92f14f0b911f7415.pdf}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}