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The International Association for the Study of Pain

Lonely Everywhere I Go: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Adolescents with Chronic Pain -MO64

Poster Abstract
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Abstract Description

Previous studies found that adolescents with chronic pain score higher on loneliness measures compared to peers despite having a best friend, and these elevated scores remain persistent over time. However, previous studies are limited as they have used a global loneliness measure and thus do not differentiate which type of peer-related loneliness is most prevalent for this vulnerable population in order to target effective interventions. This online survey, using standardized measures, captured data on three types of peer-related loneliness (dyadic, relational, community), pain characteristics (e.g., pain intensity, pain interference), and demographics (e.g., ethnicity, age, and gender) to describe the types of loneliness experienced by adolescents with chronic pain and the factors that are associated with increased loneliness. Preliminary results (n=83) of 130 adolescents with chronic pain indicate that these participants experience all three types of peer-related loneliness. Pain interference, but not age or gender, strongly correlated with all types of loneliness. Loneliness scores (all 3 types) were significantly different across all ethnicities (White, Indigenous, Black, other) with those who identify as Black scoring significantly higher than other ethnicities. Interventions to decrease loneliness amongst adolescents with chronic pain need to target all three forms of peer-related loneliness.  

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Dr. Abbie Jordan - University of Bath (United Kingdom) , Delane Linkiewich - University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) , Trinity Lowthian - , Samuel McNally - , Natasha Trehan - , Paula Forgeron - University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Jennifer Stinson - Toronto Hospital for Sick Children (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Bruce Dick - University of Alberta (Alberta, Canada) , Pam Qualter - University of Manchester (United Kingdom) , Kathryn Birnie - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Cassidy Bradley - , Dr. Allen Finley - Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada)

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