Multiple-site pain and quality of life in adolescents

Abstract

Recurrent multiple-site pain is common among adolescents, with a prevalence of up to 50%. There has been limited description of the physical or psychosocial impact of multiple-site pain on adolescents; thus it is unknown whether having multiple-site pain has a different impact on youth than having pain at a single site. This study aimed to compare differences in quality of life in youth experiencing single-site or multiple-site pain, and examine the contribution of psychosocial factors. Adolescents, 12-18 years (n = 155, 70.3% female) recruited from community and clinical settings, completed questionnaires on pain, depression, and health-related quality of life. Approximately equal numbers of adolescents reported pain at a single site (n = 54), two sites (n = 55), and three or more sites (n = 46). MANOVA was used to test group differences on pain characteristics (intensity, frequency, and duration) and quality of life (Physical, Psychosocial, and Total subscales). Pain characteristics were similar across the three groups, F(6, 296) = 1.28, p = .266. The three groups differed on quality of life, F(4,294) = 3.97, p = 0.004. Univariate analyses indicated youth with three or more pain sites had lower Psychosocial and Total quality of life scores compared to youth with one or two pain sites (ps < 0.006). Regression analyses controlling for age, gender, body mass index (β = -.094, p = 0.097), and depressive symptoms (β = -.706, p < 0.001) indicated adolescents with three or more pain sites had poorer Total quality of life scores compared to adolescents with two or fewer pain sites (p = 0.05), but not Physical (p = 0.246) or Psychosocial (p = 0.086) subscales. These findings suggest that youth with multiple-site pain may be at risk for poor quality of life and may need more intensive intervention to enhance psychosocial function.