A team of researchers from the Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto (ISPUP) concluded that adverse childhood experiences, such as bullying, increase the risk of developing painful conditions throughout life.
The conclusion arises from a project, SEPIA [acrónimo de Studying Experiences of Pain In Adolescents, em português “Estudo de experiências de dor em adolescentes”]which was intended identify key characteristics of physical pain during adolescence that allow predicting the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain in the transition to adulthood.
“In terms of public health, this is important, because Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide“says the ISPUP researcher and coordinator of the SEPIA project, Raquel Lucas.
In statements to the Lusa agency, the researcher warned about the importance of interpreting the data collected, since they have implications at the individual level and in the preparation and care of health care, as well as in health education in the pediatric age.
“In other words, at this moment we know that There is a large proportion of young people who have more adverse experiences of pain.. This means that these young people resort to medical care many times, so it is important that health professionals are prepared to receive them and that they can interpret the pain complaints that young people have as predictive of what will happen next,” he noted. .
According to a summary sent to Lusa, data collected at different stages of the study participants’ lives showed that adverse childhood experiences, such as Parental divorce, financial difficulties, moving house or schoolamong others, they can significantly increase the risk of developing painful conditions throughout life.
Another example is children who were victims of bullying up to the age of 10, who manifested adverse pain profiles at age 13.
The study showed that a Bullied children are 70% more likely to experience severe pain in adolescence.
Severe pain is considered pain that prevents the performance of daily activities, such as going to school or participating in leisure activities, and chronic pain is considered pain that persists for more than three months.
The study, presented on Friday and which included, in addition to the ISPUP, the participation of the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology and the Institute of Engineering, Technology and Systems Science and Informatics (INESC TEC) – reveals that, even in the absence of experiences of adversity, Pain is a very common experience in childhood: one in six children reports having pain that lasts more than three months, both at ages 7 and 10.
Looking at short-term consequences, the study showed that One in eight of these children had experienced pain severe enough to force them to miss school. or some leisure activity.
“We are used to seeing pain as a result of a physical injury that needs medical treatment. But in most cases, there is no injury for chronic pain. This depends on factors related to growth, maturation, development and the physical and psychosocial environment,” warned Raquel Lucas.
To develop this project, funded by FOREUM, a European foundation in the area of rheumatology research, the researchers involved around 5,000 participants, including more than 2,000 young people between 14 and 18 years old and their caregivers.
The young people were recruited through a group already created for other pain-related studies, “Generation XXI”, as well as through the National Registry of Rheumatic Patients, Reuma.pt, which follows young people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). ).
Data collection began in June 2022, using an application for mobile devices that young people and their caregivers used to answer questionnaires that included questions about various aspects related to pain.
Regarding “Generation XXI”, Raquel Lucas explained to Lusa that the the group started with 8,647 (currently there are around 6,000) children who were born in 2005/2006 and who have been regularly monitored at ages 4, 7, 10, 13 and 18.
“We would really like to characterize pain responses at later ages. See what happens when these young people reach adulthood and start working. But this depends on funding,” concluded the researcher when asked about the future of this research.
The SEPIA conclusions will be presented on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the ISPUP, in Porto.
Source: Observadora
