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Pain Acceptance in Adolescent Chronic Pain: Do Body Mindsets Play a Role?
Emily J Dowling1, Laura E Simons2, Alia J Crum3
1Department of Psychology, Health Psychology Section, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London.
The Clinical Journal of Pain
|July 1, 2025
Summary
Adolescents with chronic pain who view their body as capable show greater pain acceptance and activity engagement. Conversely, viewing the body as an adversary is linked to lower pain willingness, highlighting body mindsets as key factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pain Management
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Pain acceptance is crucial for quality of life and functioning in youth with chronic pain.
- Factors promoting pain acceptance in adolescents remain underexplored.
- Understanding these factors is vital for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body mindsets and pain acceptance in adolescents with chronic pain.
- To examine how specific body mindsets relate to pain willingness and activity engagement.
- To identify potential targets for interventions aimed at improving pain acceptance.
Main Methods:
- 102 adolescents (8-17 years) with chronic musculoskeletal pain participated.
- Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to examine associations.
- Analyses controlled for demographic factors, pain, and mental health symptoms.
Main Results:
- Adolescents held varied body mindsets: Body as Adversary, Responsive, or Capable.
- A 'Body as Adversary' mindset correlated with lower pain willingness.
- A 'Body as Capable' mindset correlated with greater activity engagement despite pain.
Conclusions:
- Body mindsets significantly predict pain acceptance facets in youth with chronic pain.
- These associations persist even after controlling for pain characteristics and functioning.
- Future research should explore modifying body mindsets as an intervention strategy.
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