Childhood violence and adult chronic pain among indigenous Sami and non-Sami populations in Norway: a SAMINOR 2 questionnaire study.
Internationally, studies have shown that childhood violence is associated with chronic pain in adulthood. However, to date, this relationship has not been examined in any indigenous population.



The main objectives of this study were to investigate the association between childhood violence and reported chronic pain, number of pain sites and the intensity of pain in adulthood in indigenous Sami and non-Sami adults, and to explore ethnic differences.



The study is based on the SAMINOR 2 questionnaire study, a larger population-based, cross-sectional survey on health and living conditions in multiethnic areas with both Sami and non-Sami populations in Mid- and Northern Norway. Our study includes a total of 11,130 adult participants: 2,167 Sami respondents (19.5%) and 8,963 non-Sami respondents (80.5%). Chronic pain was estimated by reported pain located in various parts of the body. Childhood violence was measured by reported exposure of emotional, physical and/or sexual violence.



Childhood violence was associated with adult chronic pain in several pain sites of the body regardless of ethnicity and gender. Childhood violence was also associated with increased number of chronic pain sites and higher pain intensity compared to those not exposed to childhood violence. However, among Sami men, this association was only significant for pain located in chest, hips/legs and back, and non-significant for increased number of chronic pain sites (adjusted model), and higher pain intensity.



Respondents exposed to childhood violence reported more chronic pain in several parts of the body, increased number of chronic pain sites and more intense pain in adulthood than respondents reporting no childhood violence. However, among Sami men, this association was weaker and also not significant for increased number of chronic pain sites and higher pain intensity.
Sami National Centre for Mental Health and Substance Use (SANKS) Finnmarkssykehuset HF, Karasjok, Norway.|Faculty of Health Science, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Science, Oslo, Norway; astrid.eriksen@hioa.no.
Astrid M A
AM
Eriksen
Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.|Department of Public Health, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
Berit
B
Schei
Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Ketil Lenert
KL
Hansen
Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.|Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Tore
T
Sørlie
Department of Community Medicine, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Nils
N
Fleten
Sami National Centre for Mental Health and Substance Use (SANKS) Finnmarkssykehuset HF, Karasjok, Norway.
Cecilie
C
Javo
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009664:Norway; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Norway; SAMINOR 2 study; Sami; child abuse; childhood emotional; chronic pain; ethnicity; indigenous; physical; sexual violence