AccScience Publishing / HPR / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/HPR026080043
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Meaning in life moderates the association between pain catastrophizing and mental quality of life in older adults with chronic pain: A cross-sectional study

Mariko Horii1,2* ,  Takeshi Hatta3 ,  Satoshi Shimai3 ,  Akihiko Iwahara4
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1 Department of Education, Graduate School of Faculty of Human Development and Education, Kyoto Women’s University, Kyoto, Japan
2 Medical Corporation Souwakai, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
3 Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Welfare, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, Kashiwara, Osaka, Japan
4 Department of Psychology and Collaboration, Faculty of Psychology and Collaboration, Kyoto Women’s University, Kyoto, Japan
HPR, 026080043 https://doi.org/10.36922/HPR026080043
Received: 17 February 2026 | Revised: 25 April 2026 | Accepted: 11 May 2026 | Published online: 29 May 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Background: The burden of chronic pain is high among older adults and is associated with a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Pain catastrophizing is a key psychological factor that exacerbates pain-related distress; however, the role of the meaning in life (MIL) in this relationship remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether the MIL, a key construct in positive psychology, moderates the relationship between pain catastrophizing and HRQOL among older individuals living with chronic pain.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted targeting adults aged ≥ 65 years with chronic pain. Of the 400 respondents, 349 (177 women, 172 men) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The study used standardized instruments: the catastrophizing scale, the Meaning of Life Questionnaire, pain intensity assessments, and HRQOL measures. Correlation analysis and multiple regression were performed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: MIL was identified as a moderator of the relationship between mental quality of life (QOL) and magnification (β = 0.130*). Specifically, higher levels of MIL attenuated the negative association between magnification and mental QOL. In contrast, no such moderating effect was observed for physical QOL.

Conclusion: The MIL may serve as a psychological resource that buffers the adverse impact of maladaptive pain-related cognitions on mental QOL in older adults with chronic pain. Interventions aimed at enhancing the MIL may help improve psychological well-being in this population.

Keywords
Meaning in life
Quality of life
Catastrophizing
Pain
Older adults
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Health Psychology Research, Print ISSN: 2420-8124, Published by AccScience Publishing
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