Abstract
Aims: Chronic pain is a notable burden on public health, with past and present factors contributing to it. This study aimed to examine the associations between childhood adversities and chronic pain. Methods: Data on seven childhood adversities, chronic pain and disabling pain were derived from questionnaire surveys conducted in 2000, 2001 and 2002 among 40- to 60-year-old employees (response rate of 67%) of the City of Helsinki, Finland. The study included 8140 employees (80% women). Logistic regression was used in the analyses, and the results are presented as odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Age, sex, the father’s education, the participant’s education, marital status, working conditions, sleep problems and common mental disorders were included as covariates. Results: In the age-adjusted models, childhood economic difficulties (OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.41–1.81), childhood illness (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.45–2.08), parental divorce (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.07–1.48), parental alcohol problems (OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.18–1.52) and bullying at school or among peers (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.37–1.89) were associated with chronic pain. Working conditions, sleep problems and common mental disorders each slightly attenuated the associations between childhood adversities and chronic pain. Childhood economic difficulties among women (OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.40–2.10), childhood illness (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.07–1.82) and bullying at school or by peers (OR=1.91 95% CI 1.48–2.46) were also associated with disabling pain. Conclusions: Childhood adversities were associated with chronic pain in mid-life, and the associations mainly remained after adjustments. Investing in the well-being of children might prevent pain and promote well-being in mid-life.
Highlights
Chronic pain is a major burden on public health worldwide
Childhood economic difficulties were associated with chronic pain in mid-life (OR=1.60, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.41– 1.81; Table II)
Childhood illness was associated with chronic pain in mid-life (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.45–2.08)
Summary
Chronic pain is a major burden on public health worldwide. Pain can significantly limit daily activities of life and work when it is disabling. Chronic pain is common among employees and in work life. It is associated with problems such as reduced work capacity [1] and sickness absence [2]. A British study on a large birth cohort found that only part of the studied childhood adversities, such as maternal death and childhood economic difficulties, increased the risk of chronic pain [8]. Another British study reported that of the studied seven childhood adversities, only hospitalisation in childhood was associated with chronic widespread pain [9]. A Japanese study found that family violence and substance use were associated with chronic neck and
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