Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-3936-7868
Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigated the connections between previous healthcare experiences, young adults’ pain tolerance, and healthcare fear and anxiety. Prior healthcare experiences, current fear of medical procedures, and pain tolerance were reported by 257 young adults via a survey. Structural equation modeling revealed that increased numbers of previous healthcare experiences were associated with higher pain tolerance and decreased fear and anxiety towards healthcare procedures in young adulthood. Conversely, individuals with fewer previous healthcare experiences exhibited lower pain tolerance and heightened fear and anxiety towards medical procedures as young adults. These findings suggest that the relationship between previous healthcare experiences and current pain tolerance as a young adult may be mediated by healthcare fear and anxiety. Therefore, healthcare providers should provide services to support positive healthcare experiences and minimize fear and anxiety. By doing so, healthcare professionals can potentially contribute to enhancing pain tolerance and reducing healthcare-related distress in young adulthood.
Recommended Citation
Goldstein Sigman, E.,
&
Burns-Nader, S.
(2026). Lasting Memories: Effects of Previous Healthcare Experiences on Young Adults’ Pain Tolerance.
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 14(1), 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/2325-5226.1566
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
