Burgess HJ, et al. - Given the relation of sleep disturbance with chronic pain, researchers sought for both direct and indirect (mediated) pathways by which sleep disturbance is possibly related to chronic pain intensity and function. Questionnaires assessing sleep disturbance, chronic pain intensity, function, depression, anxiety, positive affect, and catastrophizing were administered to 87 individuals (64% female) with chronic low back pain but not using opioids daily. As per cross-sectional mediation analyses, sleep disturbance is positively related with chronic pain intensity; these associations were conveyed statistically by a significant indirect impact of elevated emotional distress, lower positive affect, and greater catastrophizing related with sleep disturbance, as well as by significant direct effects of sleep disturbance on chronic pain intensity. Chronic pain intensity and function was significantly connected to sleep disturbance by both direct and indirect pathways. This is in line with emerging literature, focusing on the possible consequences of sleep disturbance in chronic pain patients and support including sleep disturbance in the assessment and management of chronic pain.