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Concurrent and longitudinal bidirectional relationships between toddlers' chronic pain and mental health: the

Noor J Wolff1, Anne-Sophie E Darlington, Joke A M Hunfeld

  • 1Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus University Medical Center, The Netherlands.

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|January 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Chronic pain in toddlers is linked to internalizing problems like anxiety. However, pain does not cause future behavioral issues, and behavioral issues do not predict new pain, except for somatic symptoms which can lead to chronic pain.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Understanding the relationship between chronic pain and behavioral/emotional issues in early childhood is crucial.
  • The temporal sequence of these conditions is not well-established in toddlers.
  • Early identification and intervention can mitigate long-term impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the concurrent and longitudinal associations between chronic pain and behavioral/emotional problems in toddlers.
  • To determine if chronic pain precedes behavioral issues or vice versa in early development.
  • To identify specific symptom patterns that may predict the onset of chronic pain.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective population-based cohort study (Generation R Study) involving 3,751 toddlers.
  • Parent-completed questionnaires assessed child health and development.
  • Behavioral and emotional problems measured at 1.5 and 3 years; chronic pain assessed at 2 and 3 years.

Main Results:

  • Concurrent associations were found between chronic pain and internalizing problems, such as anxiety and depression symptoms.
  • Chronic pain did not predict the future development of new behavioral or emotional problems.
  • Behavioral and emotional problems did not predict new-onset chronic pain, with the exception of somatic symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic pain in toddlers is associated with co-occurring internalizing problems.
  • Somatic complaints were concurrently related to pain and also predicted the likelihood of developing new-onset chronic pain.
  • The findings suggest a complex interplay, with somatic symptoms being a potential precursor to chronic pain in young children.
Abstract

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