Pain, Pain Catastrophizing, and Individual Differences in Executive Function in Adolescence

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Adolescent pain can significantly impair quality of life.
• Pain catastrophizing, characterized by pain magnification and rumination, is a major risk factor for pain.
• Executive function difficulties may underlie pain catastrophizing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between executive function difficulties, pain catastrophizing, and pain in adolescents.
• To explore potential gender differences in these relationships.

Main Methods:

• Fifty adolescents completed self-report measures for pain, pain catastrophizing, and executive function.
• Path modeling was used to analyze the relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• Pain catastrophizing was associated with difficulties in executive function domains, specifically shifting and inhibition.
• Females reported higher levels of pain catastrophizing and pain, with executive function difficulties partially mediating this association.
• Gender, executive function, and pain catastrophizing domains were interrelated with pain experiences.

Conclusions:

• Executive function difficulties are linked to pain catastrophizing in adolescents.
• Identifying executive function deficits may help clinicians identify adolescents at risk for pain catastrophizing.
• Interventions targeting executive function may reduce pain catastrophizing, pain intensity, and duration in adolescents.