• Yu Fang, Mengjie Liu, Min Wu, Jingshuo Zhang, Mengshi Liu, Tianchen Niu, and Xiaoman Zhang.
• Graduate Student, School of Nursing, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
• Pain Manag Nurs. 2024 Apr 24.

PurposeThis study aimed to explore the pathways between family functioning and mental health in people with neuropathic pain, as well as to discuss the mediating role of pain intensity, self-perceived burden, pain catastrophizing, and functional status.DesignCross-sectional design reported using the STROBE guidelines.MethodsA total of 277 people with neuropathic pain completed face-to-face questionnaires to evaluate family functioning, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, self-perceived burden, functional status, and mental health. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was constructed to analyze the pathways between these variables.ResultsThe positive total effect between family functioning and mental health was significant and partially mediated by self-perceived burden, pain catastrophizing, and functional status. In addition, better family functioning was associated with higher pain intensity, which worsens self-perceived burden, pain catastrophizing, and functional status, masking 23.68% of the positive effects between family functioning and mental health.ConclusionsBetter family functioning was associated with better mental health, as explained by reduced self-perceived burden, reduced pain catastrophizing, and improved functional status. However, this benefit may be partially masked by the relationship that better family functioning explains higher pain intensity.Clinical ImplicationsNurses' comprehensive assessment and management of neuropathic pain from both the family and individual levels, such as family functioning, pain intensity, self-perceived burden, pain catastrophizing, and functional status, may be beneficial in promoting patients' mental health. In addition, it is necessary to identify why good family functioning is associated with higher pain intensity and intervene in this regard.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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