There is a growing interest in how mindfulness may be linked to pain management. Chronic pain affects many people, and management tools can be expensive or have unwanted side effects, such as fatigue and nausea and even opioid addiction. This study looks at whether mindfulness may improve one's psychological health and immune function and therefore offer an easily accessible strategy for chronic pain relief. Participants in this study took part in a 30-day intervention where the experimental group used the mindfulness app Smiling Mind, while the other control group used a journaling app called ColorNote. Pre- and post-intervention, we tested pain tolerance through a cold pressor task, took blood samples to test for C-reactive protein, and offered surveys to track our participants' progress. Our hypothesis states that compared to participants in the control group, the mindfulness group will show more improvements in psychological well-being, increased pain tolerance, and better immune function. Research on this topic is still ongoing; however, we hope to use these findings in the nursing practice to find a solution to chronic pain and help promote health equity in the healthcare field. Overall, we want to improve the quality of life for those with chronic pain conditions.
