Maria Pavlova1, Susan A Graham1,2, Abbie Jordan3, Jill Chorney4, Jillian Vinall5, Nivez Rasic5, James Brookes6, Monica Hoy6, Warren K Yunker6, Melanie Noel1,7. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary. 2. Owerko Centre. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Bath. 4. Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University. 5. Department of Anesthesia, University of Calgary. 6. Department of Surgery, University of Calgary. 7. Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Parent-child reminiscing about past negative events has been linked to a host of developmental outcomes. Previous research has identified two distinct between-parent reminiscing styles, wherein parents who are more elaborative (vs. repetitive) have children with more optimal outcomes. To date, however, research has not examined how parents and children talk about past painful experiences nor compared parent-child reminiscing about past painful versus other distressing events despite key developmental differences in how young children respond to pain versus sadness in others. This study aimed to fill that gap. METHODS: Seventy-eight children aged 4 to 7 years underwent a tonsillectomy. Two weeks postsurgery, children and one of their parents discussed past autobiographical events (i.e., the tonsillectomy, another painful event, a sad event). Parent-child conversations were coded using established coding schemes to capture parental reminiscing style, content, and autonomy support. RESULTS: Findings revealed robust differences in parent-child reminiscing about painful versus sad events. Parents were less elaborative, used less emotionally negative words and explanations, and were less supportive of their children's autonomy while reminiscing about past painful versus sad events. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that through reminiscing, parents may socialize children about pain in a way that is different from other distressing events (e.g., sadness). Future research should examine the influence of differential reminiscing about pain versus sadness on developmental and health outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: Parent-child reminiscing about past negative events has been linked to a host of developmental outcomes. Previous research has identified two distinct between-parent reminiscing styles, wherein parents who are more elaborative (vs. repetitive) have children with more optimal outcomes. To date, however, research has not examined how parents and children talk about past painful experiences nor compared parent-child reminiscing about past painful versus other distressing events despite key developmental differences in how young children respond to pain versus sadness in others. This study aimed to fill that gap. METHODS: Seventy-eight children aged 4 to 7 years underwent a tonsillectomy. Two weeks postsurgery, children and one of their parents discussed past autobiographical events (i.e., the tonsillectomy, another painful event, a sad event). Parent-child conversations were coded using established coding schemes to capture parental reminiscing style, content, and autonomy support. RESULTS: Findings revealed robust differences in parent-child reminiscing about painful versus sad events. Parents were less elaborative, used less emotionally negative words and explanations, and were less supportive of their children's autonomy while reminiscing about past painful versus sad events. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that through reminiscing, parents may socialize children about pain in a way that is different from other distressing events (e.g., sadness). Future research should examine the influence of differential reminiscing about pain versus sadness on developmental and health outcomes.
Authors: Maria Pavlova; Kendra Mueri; Madison Kennedy; Sarah Wallwork; G Lorimer Moseley; Abbie Jordan; Melanie Noel Journal: Front Pain Res (Lausanne) Date: 2022-05-06
Authors: Abigail Jones; Line Caes; Christopher Eccleston; Melanie Noel; Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert; Abbie Jordan Journal: Paediatr Neonatal Pain Date: 2022-01-26