Cate Sinclair1, Pamela Meredith1, Jenny Strong1
1) Australia
Background and Aims: Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience that has an ecological context: it is influenced by psychological and biological factors, and the social and physical environment. Children process sensory information related to changes in the environment with varying levels of sensitivity, developing neurobiological patterns of sensory modulation. Sensitivity may impact attachment relationships and regulatory responses that support the child’s ability to participate in daily life. The objective of this research is to examine the associations between sensory modulation patterns, attachment, pain, and functional ability for children and adolescents with chronic pain.
Methods: Of the 131 children and adolescents (8-18 years) referred for assessment at the Children’s Pain Management Clinic, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, between October 2015 and December 2016, 87 (66%, f=71 m=16, age M=14, SD=2.39) met study criteria and gave consent to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants and/or parents completed the Sensory Profile (child/adolescent version), Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (adult/child), Functional Disability Index, and Pediatric Quality of Life (QOL) Scale.
Results: Child sensory sensitivity (SS) was correlated positively with functional disability (r=0.29, p<0.05), and negatively with physical (r=-.29, p<0.05) and emotional (r=-.37, p<0.01) QOL. Parental avoidant attachment correlated positively with child physical (r=0.4, p<.01) and emotional (r=0.3, p<.05) QOL. For adolescents, multiple regression models using SS, pain and parent avoidant attachment to predict physical (R2 =0.4, F(3,42)=9.23, p=<.001) and emotional (R2=.35, F(3,42)=7.46, p<.001) QOL were significant. Pain predicted lower physical QOL (t=-3.9, p<001), while SS (t=-2.6, p<.05) and pain (t=-2.9, P<.01) predicted lower emotional QOL.
Conclusions: Previous literature reports associations between sensory sensitivity and attachment insecurity. For children and adolescents with chronic pain, this study suggests that those with higher levels of sensory sensitivity may be at risk of functional disability and lower quality of life.
Acknowledgement: Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
