Neuroticism and resting mean arterial pressure interact to predict pain tolerance in pain-free adults

• We examined the interaction of personality and physiology on pain tolerance in pain-free adults.
• Higher mean arterial pressure predicted greater pain tolerance only at low levels of neuroticism.
• At high levels of neuroticism, mean arterial pressure predicted reduced pain tolerance.

Personality traits and resting mean arterial pressure are known to play a role in how people experience and cope with chronic pain, but their relationships with acute pain responses in healthy adults remain unknown. The current study aims to examine the effects of personality variables, blood pressure variables, and their interactions on pain tolerance in a sample of healthy, pain-free adults. Data were collected from 41 pain-free participants. Results revealed a significant crossover interaction such that those with higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) were able to tolerate more pain only at low levels of neuroticism. At high levels of neuroticism, MAP was inversely related to pain tolerance. The current study is the first to our knowledge to suggest that stable personality traits interact with physiology to influence pain tolerance in healthy populations. These findings could be useful in advancing the theoretical understanding of the psychological correlates of pain.