Relationship Between Social Desirability and Self-Report in Chronic Pain Patients

Correlations showed that patients with greater social desirability response bias reported less depression and anxiety but higher levels of pain severity, suggesting that social desIRability response biases should be considered in both research and clinical assessments of chronic pain patients.

Abstract

Correlations showed that patients with greater social desirability response bias reported less depression and anxiety but higher levels of pain severity. When depression effects were controlled in a regression analysis, social desirability correlated positively with self-reported disability. These results show systematic response patterns associated with social desirability, suggesting that social desirability response biases should be considered in both research and clinical assessments of chronic pain patients.