Chronic pain in families: a cross-sectional study of shared social, behavioural, and environmental influences

Social Determinants and Consequences of Pain: Towards Multilevel, Intersectional, and Life Course Perspectives

Despite wide endorsement of a biopsychosocial framework for pain, social aspects of pain remain rarely addressed in the context of pain prevention and management. In this review, we aim to: 1) examine the broad scope of social determinants and consequences of pain and their interactions across multiple levels of organization, and 2) provide a framework synthesizing existing concepts and potential areas for future work on social aspects of pain, drawing upon socioecological, intersectional, and life course approaches. Integrating interdisciplinary theory and evidence, we outline pathways through which multilevel social factors and pain may affect each other over time. We also provide a brief summary of intrapersonal aspects of pain which are thought to operate at the interface between individuals and the social context. Progressing from micro- to macro-level factors, we illustrate how social determinants of pain can directly or indirectly contribute to pain experiences, expression, risk, prognosis, and impact across populations. We consider: a) at the interpersonal level, the roles of social comparison, social relatedness, social support, social exclusion, empathy and interpersonal conflict; b) at the group or community level, the roles of intimacy groups, task groups, social categories, and loose associations; and c) at the societal level, the roles of political, economic, and cultural systems, as well as their policies and practices. We present examples of multilevel consequences of pain across these levels and discuss opportunities to reduce the burden and inequities of pain by expanding multilevel social approaches in pain research and practice. PERSPECTIVE: Despite wide endorsement of a biopsychosocial framework for pain, social aspects of pain are often unclearly defined, hindering their use in pain prevention, management, and research. We summarize the scope of social aspects of pain and provide a framework synthesizing existing concepts and potential areas for future work.

Examining the Role of Structural and Functional Social Network Characteristics in the Context of Chronic Pain: An Ego-centered Network Design

The well-being and functioning of individuals with chronic pain (CP) vary significantly. Social factors, such as social integration, may help explain this differential impact. Specifically, structural (network size, density) as well as functional (perceived social support, conflict) social network characteristics may play a role. However, it is not yet clear whether and how these variables are associated with each other. Objectives were to examine 1) both social network characteristics in individuals with primary and secondary CP, 2) the association between structural network characteristics and mental distress and functioning/participation in daily life, and 3) whether the network's functionality mediated the association between structural network characteristics and mental distress, respectively, functioning/participation in daily life. Using an online ego-centered social network tool, cross-sectional data were collected from 303 individuals with CP (81.85% women). No significant differences between individuals with fibromyalgia versus secondary CP were found regarding network size and density. In contrast, ANCOVA models showed lower levels of perceived social support and higher levels of conflict in primary (vs secondary) CP. Structural equation models showed that 1) larger network size indirectly predicted lower mental distress via lower levels of conflict; 2) higher network density increased mental distress via the increase of conflict levels. Network size or density did not (in)directly predict functioning/participation in daily life. The findings highlight that the role of conflict, in addition to support, should not be underestimated as a mediator for mental well-being. Research on explanatory mechanisms for associations between the network's structure, functionality, and well-being is warranted. PERSPECTIVE: This paper presents results on associations between structural (network size, density) and functional (social support, conflict) social network characteristics and well-being in the context of CP by making use of an ego-centered network design. Results suggest an indirect association between structural network characteristics and individuals with CP their mental well-being.

Family strain, but not family support, is linked to worse pain interference among midlife adults reporting new chronic pain

INTRODUCTION

Although family relationship quality has been linked to later chronic pain incidence for aging adults, it is unclear whether the quality of these relationships is linked to the impact of pain. We estimated longitudinal associations between family relationship quality (i.e., family support and family strain) and pain interference for adults who develop novel chronic pain across 10 years of midlife.

METHOD

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Using path analysis, we tested whether family support and strain reported by participants (54% female, age M = 54.8 years) who denied having chronic pain at the study's second wave (MIDUS 2, 2004-2006) but reported chronic pain 10 years later (MIDUS 3, 2014-2016; N = 406) was associated with the interference of that pain with daily activities after accounting for key covariates, including sociodemographics, depression symptoms, global physical health, and MIDUS 3 reports of family support and strain.

RESULTS

The hypothesized model demonstrated good fit to the data based on multiple model fit indices. Greater family strain at baseline, but not family support, was significantly associated with greater pain interference 10 years later.

DISCUSSION

Findings build on prior studies to suggest that not only are stressful family relationships likely associated with the odds of developing chronic pain, but they are also linked to the interference of that chronic pain when it develops. We recommend biopsychosocial screening in primary care that captures family relationship quality and can inform best practices for nonpharmacological, family-based pain management. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

What is known and what is still unknown within chronic musculoskeletal pain? A systematic evidence and gap map

ABSTRACT

Evidence and gap maps (EGMs) can be used to identify gaps within specific research areas and help guide future research agendas and directions. Currently, there are no EGMs within the broad domain of chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in adults. The aim of this study was to create a contemporary EGM of interventions and outcomes used for research investigating chronic MSK pain. This EGM was based on systematic reviews of interventions published in scientific journals within the past 20 years. Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were used to retrieve studies for inclusion. The quality of the included reviews was assessed using AMSTAR-II. Interventions were categorised as either physical, psychological, pharmacological, education/advice, interdisciplinary, or others. Outcomes were categorised using the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) recommendations. Of 4299 systematic reviews, 457 were included. Of these, 50% were rated critically low quality, 25% low quality, 10% moderate quality, and 15% rated high quality. Physical interventions (eg, exercise therapy) and education were the most common interventions reported in 80% and 20% of the studies, respectively. Pain (97%) and physical functioning (87%) were the most reported outcomes in the systematic reviews. Few systematic reviews used interdisciplinary interventions (3%) and economic-related outcomes (2%). This contemporary EGM revealed a low proportion of high-quality evidence within chronic MSK pain. This EGM clearly outlines the lack of high-quality research and the need for increased focus on interventions encompassing the entire biopsychosocial perspective.

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms influencing acute to chronic postsurgical pain transitions in pediatrics: Preclinical to clinical evidence

Background

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) in children remains an important problem with no effective preventive or therapeutic strategies. Recently, genomic underpinnings explaining additional interindividual risk beyond psychological factors have been proposed.

Aims

We present a comprehensive review of current preclinical and clinical evidence for genetic and epigenetic mechanisms relevant to pediatric CPSP.

Methods

Narrative review.

Results

Animal models are relevant to translational research for unraveling genomic mechanisms. For example, Cacng2, p2rx7, and bdnf mutant mice show altered mechanical hypersensitivity to injury, and variants of the same genes have been associated with CPSP susceptibility in humans; similarly, differential DNA methylation (H1SP) and miRNAs (miR-96/7a) have shown translational implications. Animal studies also suggest that crosstalk between neurons and immune cells may be involved in nociceptive priming observed in neonates. In children, differential DNA methylation in regulatory genomic regions enriching GABAergic, dopaminergic, and immune pathways, as well as polygenic risk scores for enhanced prediction of CPSP, have been described. Genome-wide studies in pediatric CPSP are scarce, but pathways identified by adult gene association studies point to potential common mechanisms.

Conclusions

Bench-to-bedside genomics research in pediatric CPSP is currently limited. Reverse translational approaches, use of other -omics, and inclusion of pediatric/CPSP endophenotypes in large-scale biobanks may be potential solutions. Time of developmental vulnerability and longitudinal genomic changes after surgery warrant further investigation. Emergence of promising precision pain management strategies based on gene editing and epigenetic programing emphasize need for further research in pediatric CPSP-related genomics.

Talking about chronic pain in family settings: a glimpse of older persons’ everyday realities

Background

The expression of chronic pain remains a delicate matter for those older persons who suffer from this condition. If many studies highlight the difficulties of putting pain into words, scarce are those that take into account how given social networks can facilitate or prevent its expression. Based on a qualitative study that explores the communication about chronic pain in older persons’ social network, this article reports on this key issue of talking about health in later life within family settings and provides clinicians with information about the way older persons with chronic conditions perceive their everyday realities and social relations.

Methods

A multidisciplinary research team (medicine, linguistics and psychology) interviewed 49 persons with chronic pain, all from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, aged 75 and older, without any major cognitive or auditory impairments. After transcription, the interviews were analyzed by combining content and discourse analysis with social network theories.

Results

Communication about chronic pain depends significantly on the position of the interlocutors within the family structure, with a preference for direct relatives or individuals with similar difficulties. In social networks, the ability to communicate about chronic pain is both a resource (by allowing older persons to get help or by strengthening interpersonal relations) and a challenge (by threatening their autonomy, social relations or self-esteem).

Conclusions

The study shows the predominance of the nuclear family (partner, children) in communication relating specifically to the everyday management of chronic pain. This state of affairs is, nevertheless, balanced by issues of (loss of) autonomy. These findings, in line with current trends in geriatrics, could benefit future reflections on the scope and limits of including relatives in the care of older patients with chronic conditions.

Pain and health-related quality of life in adolescents and the mediating role of self-esteem and self-efficacy: a cross-sectional study including adolescents and parents

Background

To promote health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents with pain, it is important to study factors associated with pain. This study aimed to describe selected factors and pain in 14–15-year-old adolescents and their parents, to assess how these factors are associated with adolescent pain groups, and to explore whether the relationship between pain intensity and HRQOL in adolescents with persistent pain is mediated by self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed among 508 dyads of adolescents (14–15 years) and parents in a school-based setting. Among these, 148 adolescents had persistent pain. We explored the following variables: HRQOL, pain, self-efficacy, self-esteem, sleep, loneliness, stress and sociodemographic variables. All variables were assessed with well-validated instruments. HRQOL was measured with KIDSCREEN-27. Analyses included Chi-square, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis and the PROCESS macro method for mediation analyses.

Results

Adolescents with pain reported significantly higher levels of stress, loneliness and lack of sleep and lower levels of self-efficacy, self-esteem and HRQOL compared to adolescents without pain. More girls than boys reported pain. Adolescents with persistent pain scored significantly worse on self-esteem, stress, loneliness, lack of sleep, school absence, pain and HRQOL compared to adolescents with shorter pain duration. Adolescent pain groups did not differ significantly considering parental factors. However, more adolescents with persistent pain reported that someone in their family had pain. The associations between pain intensity and the HRQOL subscales in adolescents with persistent pain were completely mediated by self-esteem, but not by self-efficacy. The highest degree of mediation was estimated for the HRQOL subscale school environment (indirect effect = 73.5%).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the complexity within adolescent pain, demonstrating that adolescents with pain differ from adolescents without pain when it comes to gender, school absence, factors within-person and between-persons. Longer pain duration makes adolescents more vulnerable. We confirm the importance of resilience factors for HRQOL but indicate that self-esteem is more important than self-efficacy. To promote HRQOL in adolescents with persistent pain, a strengthening of both their self-esteem and self-efficacy is recommended. We highlight the need for an individual, holistic approach to adolescent pain.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-021-00629-z.

Family-based Interventions Benefit Individuals With Musculoskeletal Pain in the Short-term but not in the Long-Term: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The benefits of family-based interventions for patients with musculoskeletal pain have been previously shown in individual randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but no systematic review has summarized their effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of family-based interventions on clinical and biopsychosocial outcomes in people with musculoskeletal pain (PROSPERO CRD42018118442). Meta-analyses were performed for the outcomes of pain intensity, disability, mood, self-efficacy, and marital adjustment.

RESULTS

Of 1223 records identified, 18 reports representing 15 RCTs were included in the qualitative review and 10 in the meta-analyses. Family-based interventions were more effective to reduce pain (mean difference [MD], -3.55/100; 95% confidence intreval [CI], -4.03 to -3.06) and disability (MD, -1.51/100; 95% CI, -1.98 to -1.05) than individual-focused interventions at short-term, but not at mid term or long term. There were no effects on other outcomes. Family-based interventions were more effective to reduce pain (MD, -6.05/100; 95% CI, -6.78 to -5.33) compared with usual care only at short-term. No effects were found on disability and other outcomes.

DISCUSSION

There is moderate-quality evidence that family-based interventions result in small, significantly better pain and disability outcomes in the short-term compared with individual-focused interventions in patients with musculoskeletal pain. Based on low-quality evidence, family-based interventions result in small improvements on pain in the short-term compared with usual care. Future studies should review the content and optimize the mechanisms underpinning family-based interventions in musculoskeletal pain so that the approach could be further tested in adequately powered RCTs.

Family history of pain and risk of musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Emerging evidence suggests that musculoskeletal (MSK) pain should be viewed from a biopsychosocial perspective and consider the influence of family factors. We conducted a review with meta-analysis to provide summary estimates of effect of family history of pain on childhood MSK pain and explore whether specific family pain factors influence the strength of the association (PROSPERO CRD42018090130). Included studies reported associations between family history of pain and nonspecific MSK pain in children (age <19 years). The outcome of interest was MSK pain in children. We assessed the methodological quality using a modified version of the Quality in Prognosis Studies instrument and quality of evidence for the main analyses using the GRADE criteria. After screening of 7281 titles, 6 longitudinal and 23 cross-sectional studies were included. Moderate quality evidence from 5 longitudinal studies (n = 42,131) showed that children with a family history of MSK pain had 58% increased odds of experiencing MSK pain themselves (odds ratio [OR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.09). Moderate quality evidence from 18 cross-sectional studies (n = 17,274) supported this finding (OR 2.02, 95% 1.69-2.42). Subgroup analyses showed that the relationship was robust regardless of whether a child's mother, father, or sibling experienced pain. Odds were higher when both parents reported pain compared with one ([mother OR = 1.61; father OR = 1.59]; both parents OR = 2.0). Our findings show moderate quality evidence that children with a family history of pain are at higher risk of experiencing MSK pain. Understanding the mechanism by which this occurs would inform prevention and treatment efforts.

Contextual risk among adolescents receiving opioid prescriptions for acute pain in pediatric ambulatory care settings

Many adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) report that their first exposure to opioids was in the course of routine pain treatment in medical care settings. Adolescents receive opioid prescriptions with frequency, but are susceptible to a constellation of unique risks in the context of pain management. This empirical study presents the first cohort of adolescents recruited from ambulatory medical care within 72 h of their receipt of opioids to treat acute pain. The primary aim was to capture a time-sensitive report of the intersection of prescription opioid receipt and contextual risks for opioid misuse related to pain experience, mental health symptoms, and substance use at the adolescent and parental levels. Data were collected from 70 14-19-year-old adolescents and their accompanying parent. Results reflected that 90% of this sample of adolescents reported 2 or more risks and 35% reported 5 or more risks for future opioid misuse. Pain catastrophizing (46%) and alcohol use (40%) and were the most common adolescent-level risk factors; mother history of chronic pain (32%) and parent anxiety (21%) were the most common parent-level risk factors. Past-week parent pain intensity showed the strongest association with adolescent past-week pain intensity; neither was associated with adolescent OUD symptoms. Adolescent pain catastrophizing most reliably predicted OUD symptoms; parent pain interference was also associated. Seventy-one percent of parents reported keeping opioids at home, a relevant risk factor for future misuse. These findings illuminate the intersection between adolescent and parental risks in the context of pediatric opioid prescribing for acute pain management, and provide initial insight into potential points of prevention early in adolescent pain treatment, including avenues by which to inform and enhance prescriber decision-making regarding factors to be weighed in adolescent candidacy for opioid therapy.

Close relationships as a contributor to chronic pain pathogenesis: Predicting pain etiology and persistence

RATIONALE

Chronic stress contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic pain. Yet, the role of close relationship stress in these pathways to pain is not fully understood.

OBJECTIVE

To delineate specific psychosocial pathways associated with chronic pain, specifically emphasizing close relationships for midlife adults. We tested whether relationship strain, relationship support, social integration, depression, anxiety, and pain severity predict chronic pain etiology and persistence over 10 years, highlighting specific associations for acute versus chronic pain.

METHOD

Using data from the National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS 2 and 3, collected in 2004-2006 and 2013-2014, respectively), we used logistic regression to test the etiology of new chronic pain (n = 1591) and persistence of pain for adults with acute (n = 352) and chronic pain (n = 367) conditions at baseline.

RESULTS

Of participants who reported they did not have chronic pain at baseline, the development of chronic pain 10 years later was significantly associated with baseline family strain (OR = 1.38, p < .01). For participants with acute pain at baseline, the transition of this pain to chronic a decade later was significantly associated with initial reports of pain interference (OR = 1.24, p < .001), family support (OR = 0.60, p < .05), and depression (OR = 1.20, p < .05). Persistent chronic pain was solely associated with baseline pain interference (OR = 1.21, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Family strain is an important part of the chronic stress profile associated with chronic pain etiology, whereas family support is associated with a reduced risk of acute pain transitioning to chronic pain over time. Prioritizing family relationships in treatment approaches to pain may be an indicated, innovative approach to preventing pain development and escalation and requires systems training in healthcare.

Chronic non-cancer pain in children: we have a problem, but also solutions

Chronic non-cancer pain in children and adolescents has been described as "a modern public health disaster" that has generated significant medical and economic burdens within society. Seen as a disease in its own right, chronic pain has short and long-term consequences that impact not only the patient's health but also that of friends and families, due to significant parenting stress and disruptions in family life and structure. The evidence supporting pharmacological treatments and interventional procedures is limited, and no single strategy has been shown to be completely effective in children with chronic non-cancer pain. Therefore, considering the multifactorial nature of chronic pain, these patients should be treated with a multidisciplinary, balanced approach that seeks a primary outcome of improved functioning rather than of pain reduction. Using a bio-psycho-social approach, a multidisciplinary team, including a physiotherapist, nurse, social worker, psychologist, and physician, has been effective in achieving this outcome of improved functioning in children and adolescents with chronic pain. In this review, we discuss the impact, associated conditions, and evolution of chronic pain, along with the crucial role of every member of a multidisciplinary chronic pain clinic involved in the care of the children and adolescents with chronic non-cancer pain.