Pain & social competency
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Social Competency in Teens with Chronic Pain
IRAS ID
221094
Contact name
Line Caes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Chronic pain (regardless of etiology) is a major public health concern, affecting up to 30% of adolescents worldwide, with a smaller percentage of adolescents (5-8%) experiencing pain that is both intense and disabling (King et al., 2011; Standford et al., 2008). Such pain negatively impacts quality of life and has been linked to school absenteeism (Logan et al., 2008), depressed mood (Kashikar Zuck et al., 2001), withdrawal from activities (Palermo, 2000), and impaired social functioning (Forgeron et al., 2010). With respect to social functioning, a recent review found that youth with chronic pain had fewer friendships, experienced more frequent peer victimization, and were rated as less likeable and more isolated by their peers (Forgeron et al., 2010). The reasons for these peer problems are not well understood, though some have speculated that reduced social competency in the presence of pain may contribute (Fales & Forgeron, 2014).
Social competency can be understood as the ability to select and engage with an appropriate reaction in challenging situations (Nangle et al., 2010), with these competencies developing in part through interacting with peers. Adolescents who spend less time in the company of their peers due to their chronic pain may have therefore have less opportunities to develop and refine their social competencies. This is particularly troubling because youth with chronic pain may be confronted with challenging social situations (e.g., cancelling plans, requesting help) more frequently than their otherwise healthy peers.
At present, systematic research investigating the social functioning of adolescents with chronic pain has been difficult due to the unavailability of appropriate measures. The primary aim of the research is to take a first step towards developing a measure of social competence for adolescents with chronic pain that is usable across countries and specific to the experiences of adolescents with chronic pain. The first step towards this development will include conducting group interviews with adolescents who have chronic pain to identify the challenging social situations commonly experienced by this group.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
17/SS/0039
Date of REC Opinion
3 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion