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Published on: April 14, 2016

The role of social modeling in unexplained pediatric pain

R B Osborne, J W Hatcher, A J Richtsmeier

    Journal of Pediatric Psychology
    |March 1, 1989
    PubMed

    Insights

    Children with unexplained pain (UP) identified more pain models than those with explained pain (EP). UP children perceived more positive consequences of pain, while EP children perceived more negative ones, suggesting social modeling influences pain perception.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Psychology
    • Pain Management
    • Child Development

    Background:

    • Recurrent pain is common in children.
    • Understanding the environmental influences on pain perception is crucial.
    • Sickle cell anemia presents a model for studying explained pain.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of social modeling in children's pain perception.
    • To compare pain models and their consequences in children with unexplained pain (UP) versus explained pain (EP) due to sickle cell anemia.

    Main Methods:

    • Interviewed 40 children (20 UP, 20 EP) and their parents.
    • Assessed pain location, intensity, frequency, and environmental consequences.
    • Examined the relationship between children's and their identified models' pain experiences.

    Main Results:

    • Children with UP identified significantly more pain models than those with EP.
    • UP children reported more positive consequences of pain behavior, whereas EP children reported more negative consequences.
    • Children's pain perception (frequency, intensity) mirrored their models', a correlation not reported by parents.

    Conclusions:

    • Social learning and environmental factors significantly influence how children perceive and experience recurrent pain.
    • Children may model general illness behaviors or specific pain symptoms from their environment.
    • Further research is needed to explore the long-term impact of pain modeling on pediatric pain management.

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