Testing a model of pain appraisal and coping in children with chronic abdominal pain.
This prospective study of children with recurrent abdominal pain (N=133; ages 8--15 years) used path analysis to examine relations among dispositional pain beliefs and coping styles, cognitions and behavior related to a specific pain episode, and short- and long-term outcomes. Children believing they could not reduce or accept pain appraised their episode-specific coping ability as low and reported passive coping behavior. Dispositional passive coping had direct effects on both episode-specific passive coping and long-term symptoms and disability. Accommodative coping (acceptance and self-encouragement) was associated with reduced episode-specific distress, which itself predicted reduced depressive symptoms 3 months later. Results suggest that coping-skill interventions for children with chronic pain should target reductions in passive coping and consider the potential benefits of accommodative coping strategies.
Walker
Lynn S
LS
Division of Adolescent Medicine and Behavioral Science, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-3571, USA. lynn.walker@vanderbilt.edu
Smith
Craig A
CA
Garber
Judy
J
Claar
Robyn Lewis
RL
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires