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Children of chronic pain patients: risk factors for maladjustment
Deborah Y Chun1, Judith A Turner, Joan M Romano
1Department of Psychology (NI-25), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (RP-10) University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA.
Insights
Children of chronic pain patients exhibit more behavioral issues and lower social skills. Parental functional disability is linked to child behavior problems, highlighting risks for these children.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Chronic pain significantly impacts family dynamics.
- Previous research indicates negative effects on spouses and children of chronic pain patients.
- Understanding child adjustment in families with chronic pain is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the adjustment of children with chronic pain patients compared to controls.
- To investigate the relationship between parental characteristics and child adjustment.
- To identify specific risk factors for adjustment problems in children of chronic pain sufferers.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design.
- Involved 35 children of chronic pain patients and 29 children of healthy controls.
- Utilized teacher and parent ratings for child behavior problems and social competence, alongside patient and spouse self-reports on depression and disability.
Main Results:
- Children of chronic pain patients showed more teacher-rated behavior problems and lower social competence than controls.
- Parental functional disability in patients was associated with increased child behavior problems.
- Patient gender influenced child social competence, with children of male patients rated as less socially competent.
Conclusions:
- Children of chronic pain patients are at increased risk for adjustment difficulties.
- Parental functional disability is a significant factor affecting child behavior.
- Targeted support for these families may mitigate negative outcomes.
Abstract:
Recent research has documented negative effects of chronic pain problems on patients' spouses and children. This study examined the adjustment of children of 35 chronic pain patients, compared with children of 29 healthy controls, and the relationship of specific parental characteristics to child adjustment. Pain group children had significantly more teacher-rated behavior problems and significantly lower teacher-rated social competence than did control group children. Children of male patients were rated by parents as significantly less socially competent than children of female patients. Compared with controls, pain patients and their spouses reported significantly more depression, and pain patients were significantly more disabled. Patient functional disability was significantly associated with parent-rated child behavior problems, but group membership, patient gender, patient depression, and patient marital satisfaction were not. Child social competence was predicted by patient gender, but was not predicted by patient depression or disability, group membership, or by patient marital satisfaction. The results suggest that children of chronic pain patients may be at risk for adjustment problems.