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:: Volume 36, Issue 2 (summer 2026) ::
MEDICAL SCIENCES 2026, 36(2): 212-223 Back to browse issues page
Investigating the relationship between mentalization and tolerance of ambiguity with pain perception with the mediating role of stress in patients with chronic pain
Seyed Ahmad Amin Kokabi Salehi1 , Sara Hashemi2
1- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Technology, Tehran Azad University of Research, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Technology, Tehran Azad University of Research, Tehran, Iran , dr.sarahashemi@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (360 Views)
Background: Pain is a reflection of the perception of pain-causing information, and the perceived pain caused by chronic pain in patients with musculoskeletal, joint pain, and migraine headaches is one of the common reasons for patients to visit medical centers. The aim of the present study was to predict pain perception based on mentalization and tolerance of ambiguity with the mediating role of stress in patients with chronic pain.
Materials and methods: This is a descriptive correlational study of the predictive type. In this study, 215 patients with chronic musculoskeletal, joint, and migraine headaches were selected through purposive sampling with inclusion and exclusion criteria. They answered the 52-question multidimensional perception questionnaire of Dordthaven Yale, the 14-question mentalization questionnaire of Fonagy et al., the 13-question McLean ambiguity tolerance questionnaire, and the 21-question DASS questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential methods were used to analyze the data using SPSS version-27 and Amos version-24 softwares.
Results: The uncertainty component of mentalization and ambiguity tolerance had a significant relationship with pain perception and were able to predict pain perception. The results of mediation analysis also showed that stress has a mediating role in the relationship between mentalization and ambiguity tolerance.
Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the uncertainty component of mentalization, ambiguity tolerance, and stress are factors affecting pain perception, and special attention should be paid to these factors
Keywords: Mentalization, Ambiguity tolerance, Pain perception, Stress, Patient, Chronic pain
Full-Text [PDF 1137 kb]   (74 Downloads)    
Semi-pilot: Basic | Subject: psychology
Received: 2025/07/9 | Accepted: 2025/11/30 | Published: 2026/07/1
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Kokabi Salehi S A A, Hashemi S. Investigating the relationship between mentalization and tolerance of ambiguity with pain perception with the mediating role of stress in patients with chronic pain. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2026; 36 (2) :212-223
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Volume 36, Issue 2 (summer 2026) Back to browse issues page
فصلنامه علوم پزشکی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد پزشکی تهران Medical Science Journal of Islamic Azad Univesity - Tehran Medical Branch
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