The relation of social functioning to school impairment among adolescents with chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To further our understanding of social functioning in children with chronic pain, and particularly how social functioning relates to school impairment in this population.


METHODS
This study involved 126 adolescents (12 to 17 y) evaluated at a multidisciplinary pain clinic. Adolescents completed measures assessing social functioning, pain, physical limitations, somatic symptoms, and school impairment.


RESULTS
Lower social functioning scores were significantly associated with pain, physical limitations, somatic symptoms, and school impairment. Social functioning mediated the relations between adolescents' pain experience (ie, pain, physical symptoms, physical limitations) and school impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the importance of assessing and addressing social functioning in youth with chronic pain. Future research targeting school impairment should include evaluating the potential role that peer difficulties may play.
Simons
Laura E
LE
Pain Treatment Service Pediatric, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Laura.Simons@childrens.harvard.edu
Logan
Deirdre E
DE
Chastain
Laura
L
Stein
Michelle
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires