Comparison of pain and psychosocial correlates among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White youth with chronic pain

Abstract

Introduction: Despite well-documented pain disparities among adults from non-White and Hispanic groups, less is known about pain disparities in non-White and Hispanic pediatric populations. Objectives: We compare pain and related psychosocial factors at the individual (pain intensity, pain interference, pain catastrophizing, co-occurring symptoms), social (peer relations), and systemic (health insurance) levels among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) youth with chronic pain. Methods: Eight hundred thirty-seven (71.4% female) Hispanic (n 5 268, 32%) and NHW (n 5 569, 68%) youth ages 8 to 17 years (M 5 14.00; SD 5 2.54) completed a survey at their initial visit to a pain clinic. Independent sample t tests investigated mean differences in psychosocial factors at the individual and social levels. Chi-squared tests investigated differences at the systemic level. Bivariate correlations for each group were compared using Fisher r-to-z transformations. Results:. Hispanic youth reported higher levels of pain intensity (t[811] 5 22.75, P 5 0.006). Groups did not differ in reports of other individual or social factors. Non-Hispanic White youth were more likely to have private insurance (OR, 5.66). All examined variables were significantly correlated among NHW youth. Correlations were weaker or nonsignificant among Hispanic youth. Fisher r-to-z transformations revealed these group differences to be significant. Conclusion: Hispanic youth report higher pain levels than NHW counterparts and lower likelihood of having private insurance. Pain and psychosocial factors correlate differently among the 2 groups highlighting a need to better understand the chronic pain experiences of diverse youth because models derived primarily from NHW populations may not generalize across ethnic and racial groups.

Bridging Access to Pediatric Pain Care

“…Study procedures were approved by the university’s institutional review board as a retrospective patient chart review, and informed consent was not required as the information collected was within standard clinical care. Other publications have utilized Peds-CHOIR data to explore research questions 19–30 . Data were extracted retrospectively from Peds-CHOIR and patient medical charts.…”

“…Other publications have utilized Peds-CHOIR data to explore research questions. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Data were extracted retrospectively from Peds-CHOIR and patient medical charts.…”

Pain Catastrophizing: How Far Have We Come

“…Furthermore, even though the PCS adequately represents the cognitive aspects of pain catastrophizing, it may not adequately demonstrate the affective and behavioral components [ 100 ] which are significant influencing factors to pain perception. Cultural and linguistic differences among a diverse and multiethnic patient population may also pose a limitation in adequately interpreting pain catastrophizing assessment instruments [ 65 , 101 ].…”