Objectives: We assessed the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Pain-related Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (PBAS) scale among patients with chronic pain. Furthermore, we investigated whether pan-related dysfunctional beliefs about sleep mediate the relationship between sleep severity and pain.
Methods: Overall, 100 participants with chronic pain were recruited using an anonymous online survey. Their demographic data and responses to pain severity rating scales, comprising the translated Korean version of the PBAS; Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-16 (DBAS-16); Metacognition Questionnaire-Insomnia-6 (MCQI-6); and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), were collected.
Results: The Korean version of the PBAS scale has two-factor structure. The PBAS was a reliable scale which can measure pain-related dysfunctional beliefs about sleep among patients with chronic pain. It showed strong convergent validity with pain severity (r = 0.61, p < .001), DBAS-16 (r = 0.65, p < .001), MCQI-6 (r = 0.56, p < .001), and ISI (r = 0.68, p < .001) scores. Mediation analysis indicated that pain severity directly influenced insomnia severity, with PBAS, DBAS-16, and MCQI-6 scores partially mediating this association. Conversely, insomnia severity was associated with pain severity, with the PBAS score alone mediating this relationship.
Conclusions: The Korean PBAS is a reliable and valid rating scale which measures pain-specific, sleep-related dysfunctional beliefs among patients with chronic pain.