The Relationship between Pain Characteristics, Peer Difficulties, and Emotional Functioning among Adolescents Seeking Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Test of Mediational Models

Abstract

Objective To evaluate patterns of relationships between pain characteristics, peer difficulties, and emotional functioning in a sample of adolescents seeking treatment for chronic pain. Methods Participants were 172 adolescents (age M = 14.88 years; 76% female, 88% White) with heterogeneous chronic pain disorders who completed measures of pain characteristics, peer difficulties, and emotional functioning before their new patient appointment in a pain management clinic. Direct and indirect relationships between variables were tested using path analysis. Results Adequate model fit was found for models that specified emotional functioning (anxiety and depression) as a mediator of the relationship between pain interference and peer difficulties. Conversely, poor fit was found for all models specifying peer difficulties as a mediator of the relationship between pain characteristics and emotional functioning. Conclusions Assessing and targeting depression and anxiety among youth with high pain interference may help prevent or improve peer difficulties.