Rehabilitation Research and Practice Table 3: Second-order AIMS2-SF scales and correlation with PBQ organic scale. Table 4: Data for primary hypothesis testing. Max score Min Score Highest possible score Median Correlation r with PBQ organic scale 101 37 20 — r = 0.34 r = 0.33 r = 0.34 r = 0.69 r = 0.36 27 6 2 — Std dev 42.3 4.2 2.8 2.9 1.7 Mean 57.3 23.8 12.6 11.1 297 10 10 12 2 Std dev 12.7 5.8 3.9 10.9 Scatterplot of multiple variables against SumAims SumAims: sumPsychBelf: y = 11.3867 + 0.0217∗x; r = 0.0699, P = 0.4364; r2 = 0.0049 SumAims: sumOrgBlf: y = 15.1868 + 0.1524∗x; r = 0.3264, P = 0.0002; r2 = 0.1065 AIMS2-SF subscale Physical activity Aﬀect Pain Social Work Mean 295.2 10.8 9.8 11.5 3.1 AIMS2-SF PBQ organic belief scale PBQ psychological belief scale Duration of pain (years) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 20 60 SumAims 30 40 50 70 80 90 100 SumPsychBelf SumOrgBlf Figure 2: Scatterplot with linear regressions of the sum of AIMS2- SF disability with both the psychological subscale of the PBQ and the organic subscale of the PBQ. The primary hypothesis tests conﬁrmed that organic beliefs about persistent pain are associated with functioning. A low score (less negative beliefs about pain) of the organic scale of the PBQ was associated with better functioning in the AIMS2-SF. A high score (greater negative beliefs about pain) of the organic scale of the PBQ was associated with poorer functioning in the AIMS2-SF. The psychological scale of the PBQ showed no relationship with disabled functioning. 4. Discussion 4.1. Outcomes Achieved. The primary hypothesis in this study is conﬁrmed. There is a signiﬁcant relationship between organic beliefs about pain and functioning. This was 5 P (linear ﬁt) P = 0.00003 P = 0.00004 P = 0.00003 P = 0.4 P = 0.03 130 40 20 — shown for participants in the Arthritis New Zealand exercise classes and education programmes. The sample consisted of patients with rheumatologic conditions with pain for 8 years and more (51%) and ranged from 22 to 91 years in age (mean age of 65 years; SD 11.7 years). The participants in this study would have beneﬁted from the education and support provided by ANZ for managing their pain and improving their exercise and functioning. It is not possible in this study to measure the modifying extent due to the participants’ involvement with the ANZ programmes. This correlation is nevertheless present despite the membership and participation with ANZ. Data from this study show that patients with rheuma- tologic conditions who have had pain for more than 8 years and have a high score of organic beliefs are likely to exhibit poor functioning. High organic beliefs are the beliefs that the pain experience indicates harm or a threat to well being. The converse is also true. This strong evidence dissects organic beliefs from psychological beliefs for their respective inﬂuence on functioning. Furthermore, this study’s con- tribution is consistent with the current literature that the transition from acute to persistent pain is associated with cognitive-aﬀective factors (such as negative beliefs and low self-eﬃcacy) [56–59]. Beliefs contribute to the formation of an individual’s perception of reality. Pain beliefs are thoughts about the per- ceived control of the pain experience. These include the extent to which the pain experience is perceived to be harm- ful, the perceived disability associated with the pain experi- ence, and the expectations of recovery [60]. Those who have a low score of organic pain beliefs are likely to have bet- ter functioning. This conﬁrms the literature that organic be- liefs about pain inﬂuence catastrophising and functional dis- ability [60]. Organic pain beliefs contribute to the perception that pain is harmful and that control of pain is not possible; this weaves a common thread with catastrophising. Catastro- phising is widely known to inﬂuence functional disability; it inﬂuences the perception of harm and disability associated