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. 2012 Aug;37(7):808-16.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jss054. Epub 2012 Apr 5.

Relations between anxiety sensitivity, somatization, and health-related quality of life in children with chronic pain

Nicole E Mahrer  1 , Zorash Montaño, Jeffrey I Gold
Affiliations

Relations between anxiety sensitivity, somatization, and health-related quality of life in children with chronic pain

Nicole E Mahrer et al. J Pediatr Psychol. 2012 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To further understand the influence of psychological variables on pain and functioning in children with chronic pain by examining the relations between pain, anxiety sensitivity (AS), somatization, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and whether they vary as a function of age and gender.

Methods: 66 children (8-12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years) with chronic pain completed measures assessing pain intensity, AS (childhood anxiety sensitivity index), somatization (child somatization inventory), and HRQOL (pediatric quality of life inventory 4.0).

Results: Somatization was significantly related to higher pain intensity. Somatization significantly predicted HRQOL over and above pain. AS was a significant predictor of impaired HRQOL for children and females in the sample, but not for adolescents or males.

Conclusion: Somatization and AS may be better predictors of HRQOL impairment than pain intensity in children with chronic pain. This may differ as a function of age and gender.

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