Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2011
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Daniel W McNeil
Abstract
This study developed and tested the Emotional Pain Interview (EPI), a semi-structured interview measuring emotional pain, using community dwelling adults with a significant history of emotional pain (n = 16; emotional pain group) relative to matched controls reporting a prior significant positive life experience (n = 16; positive life experience group). The EPI and a matching positive life event interview were used to assess all participants regarding prior emotionally painful and positive life experiences. Participants completed measures of anxiety sensitivity, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Ratings of emotional responding (i.e., Valence, Arousal, and Control/Dominance) were made for prior emotionally painful and positive life experiences by each participant and two researchers. The emotional pain group had significantly higher PTSD and depression scores than the positive life event group. Ratings of Valence and Control/Dominance differed for both participants and researchers across type of interview. Ratings did not differ, however, between groups for participants' or researchers' ratings of Valence, Arousal, or Control/Dominance. The EPI appears to have utility in the measurement of emotional pain, although it likely would benefit from additional refinement.
Recommended Citation
Weinstein, Ben, "Development of an Emotional Pain Interview" (2011). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4813.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4813