Perceived Community Control in Adults with Acute Low Back Pain: A Community-Based Study

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability for individuals and societies globally. Prior investigations have predominantly centered around biological and psychological factors. Addressing social determinants is critical for enhancing the effectiveness and equity of pain interventions. We aimed to characterize social factors, sleep, and pain among adults with acute LBP, focusing on perceived community control.

Methods: A community-based sample of adults with acute LBP was recruited from two cities in North Carolina, United States, and followed up at 3 months. We used descriptive statistics to characterize social factors, sleep, and pain, overall and by levels of perceived community control.

Results: In total, 110/131 enrolled participants had data on perceived community control (lower scores indicate higher control). Overall, the median perceived community control was 14 (interquartile range [IQR] = 11, 15). People with high perceived community control also had, on average, higher perceived individual control, better-perceived neighborhood walkability, lower number of sites with bothersome comorbid pain, and higher sleep quality. A higher proportion of participants with high perceived community control were of male sex, White race, and had a higher socioeconomic position.

Conclusions: Community control and related constructs may be further explored in future intervention development as potentially modifiable social factors that may reduce pain burden.