Abstract
This study examined the effects of distraction strategy and self-efficacy on pain control. Twentyfour male and twenty-four female undergraduate students were asked to immerse their hands in cold water of 3°C (cold pressor test). They were divided into six experimental groups in a 3 (distraction : High/Low/Control) X2 (self-efficacy : High/Low) factorial design, wherein tolerance time, subjective pain, distress, and anxiety were measured. A two-way ANOVA revealed that only for increased in tolerance time, significant main effect was found for distraction. Self-efficacy was not significant. No ANOVA interactions were significant. There results were dsicussed in terms of the attentional capacity for distraction strategy to control the pain and the problems related to manipulation of self-efficacy in cold pressor test.
