Is chronic pain in adulthood related to childhood factors? A population-based case-control study of young adults

To investigate whether recalled childhood pain experiences and illnesses are associated with chronic pain in young adults.

A cross-sectional population-based survey recruited participants aged 18-25 years for a case-control study and obtained information on current pain and recalled childhood experiences. In total, 858 respondents were classified as either non-pain controls (n = 276), non-chronic pain cases (pain for < or = 3 months in the previous 6 months, n = 435), or chronic pain cases (pain of > 3 months' duration, n = 119).

858 young adults responded to the survey (adjusted response rate 37%). Of the recalled exposures in childhood, family members with pain (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.48, 4.15), having more than 2 relatives with pain during childhood (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.44, 6.40), being admitted to hospital during childhood (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.04, 2.80), and having more illness than one's peer group at secondary school (OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.99, 7.96) were significantly associated with having chronic pain as a young adult, after adjustment for age, sex, and current psychological distress scores. Recall bias was assessed by comparing actual and recalled admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, with no significant differences being found between the participating groups.

Several associations were observed between pain status as a young adult and selected self-reported childhood experiences of illness and pain. The role of recall bias cannot be excluded in this retrospective study, but the results emphasize the importance of family and childhood experiences of pain in potentially influencing future adult pain status.