Risk, Resilience, and Recovery: A Longitudinal Mixed-Method Study Examining the Role of Peer Relationships in Pediatric Pain
Project Description:
Pediatric chronic pain is a critical public health problem, affecting up to a third of adolescents and contributing to significant emotional distress, poor sleep, and difficulties in social functioning. These difficulties include social isolation, friendship instability, and high rates of peer victimization both on and offline. Whether peer relationship problems are a cause, correlate, or consequence of chronic pain is largely unknown. Although research has long demonstrated links between social pain (e.g., social exclusion, loneliness) and physical pain—little research has examined the prospective, daily, or chronic impact of peer relationship problems on pain persistence and pain-related disability in childhood. Further, no research has examined how positive peer relationship factors (e.g., social connectedness, social support) may promote recovery or protect against the development of disabling pediatric chronic pain. The objective of the proposed research is to identify specific peer relationship processes that influence pain persistence, exacerbation, and recovery in a cohort of 450 early adolescents (ages 11-14) at risk for developing chronic pain (i.e., youth seeking treatment for an acute pain problem).
Keyword(s):
Adolescent Health, Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood – General, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
National
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
