Validating Children's Pain: Untapped Approach to Prevent Chronic Pain, Study Reveals

“By validating children’s experiences of pain, they are likely to hold fewer negatively biased memories of pain and be in better position to seek help in the future, when they need it.”

Dr Wallwork says that setting children up for success should cover all aspects of life, including pain management.

“Our research highlights an underemphasised element of child and youth pain treatment, especially for children in minoritised groups, who are systematically undertreated for pain,” Dr Wallwork says. “People with chronic pain often report that their pain-related experiences are met with disbelief or dismissal. This can have significant consequences, including poor mental health and reduced quality of life.

“Given the significant burden of chronic pain, and the clear intersection with the rising child mental health crisis, it’s important that we better manage pain earlier on, rather than waiting until it is too late.” Dr Wallwork says this review provides a building block for future empirical research.

Reference: Wallwork, Sarah B.^a,*; Shenk, Chad^b,c; McMurtry, C. Meghan^d; Hood, Anna M.^e; Pavlova, Maria^f; Olson, Anneke E.^b; Moseley, G. Lorimer^a; Noel, Melanie^g. “I hear you”. Validation in the context of children's pain as an untapped opportunity to prevent chronic pain. PAIN ():10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003350, July 30, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003350