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Temperament and pain reactivity predict health behavior seven years later

Elizabete M Rocha1, Kenneth M Prkachin

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George BC V2N 4Z9 Canada. rochae@unbc.ca

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|October 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children's early pain reactivity and temperament influence future health behaviors. Heightened pain reactivity in kindergarten predicts later somatization, indicating potential health risks.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Health
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • Individual, environmental, and social factors influence health outcomes.
  • Childhood temperament and pain reactivity are key individual response styles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between kindergarten temperament and pain reactivity and later health behaviors in children.
  • To determine if early individual response styles predict future health outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A 7-year longitudinal study followed 42 children (mean age 11 years).
  • Health behaviors were assessed and compared with temperament and pain reactivity measured in kindergarten.

Main Results:

  • Kindergarten pain reactivity correlated with self-reported somatization 7 years later, irrespective of temperament.
  • Temperament was linked to somatization, healthcare utilization, and psychosocial health.

Conclusions:

  • Early heightened pain reactivity and adjustment difficulties may signal future health risks.
  • These early response styles are associated with increased healthcare use and poorer well-being in childhood.
Abstract

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