Rachel M Tomlinson1, Kevin C Bax2, Dhandapani Ashok3, C Meghan McMurtry4. 1. Kitchener Psychology Centre, 715 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener, ON N2E 4E9, Canada. Electronic address: rtomlinson@kitchenerpsych.com. 2. Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, 800 Commissioners Rd. E, London, Ontario N6A 5W9, Canada. Electronic address: kevin.bax@lhsc.on.ca. 3. Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, 800 Commissioners Rd. E, London, Ontario N6A 5W9, Canada. Electronic address: dhandapani.ashok@lhsc.on.ca. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Pediatric Chronic Pain Program, McMaster Children's Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Western University, Children's Health Research Institute, Canada. Electronic address: cmcmurtr@uoguelph.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Abdominal pain adversely impacts children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) or organic gastrointestinal disorders (OGIDs); findings are inconsistent regarding diagnosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study utilizes a positive psychology framework to understand the experience of youth with abdominal pain (i.e., do positive psychological factors, such as optimism and pain self-efficacy, relate to higher HRQoL?). Consistent with a protective factor model of resilience, in which personal assets may serve as buffers between risk factors and negative outcomes, optimism and pain self-efficacy were examined as they relate to HRQoL in youth with abdominal pain. Specifically, exploratory moderational analyses examined a) if optimism and pain self-efficacy moderate the relation between pain and HRQoL, and b) whether diagnostic status moderated the relation between optimism/pain self-efficacy and HRQoL. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, observational study, youth (n = 98; Mage = 13, SD = 3) experiencing abdominal pain related to FGIDs or OGIDs and one of their parents participated. Measures included pain intensity, optimism, pain self-efficacy, and HRQoL. Analyses controlled for diagnosis, age, and gender. RESULTS: Higher pain and age related to lower HRQoL. Higher levels of optimism and pain self-efficacy associated with HRQoL beyond demographics. Optimism and pain self-efficacy did not moderate the relation between pain and HRQoL. Diagnostic status did not moderate the relation between optimism or pain self-efficacy and HRQoL. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest positive relations between positive psychological factors (optimism, pain self-efficacy) and HRQoL in youth with abdominal pain. Such factors could be further examined in intervention studies.
OBJECTIVES:Abdominal pain adversely impacts children with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) or organic gastrointestinal disorders (OGIDs); findings are inconsistent regarding diagnosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study utilizes a positive psychology framework to understand the experience of youth with abdominal pain (i.e., do positive psychological factors, such as optimism and pain self-efficacy, relate to higher HRQoL?). Consistent with a protective factor model of resilience, in which personal assets may serve as buffers between risk factors and negative outcomes, optimism and pain self-efficacy were examined as they relate to HRQoL in youth with abdominal pain. Specifically, exploratory moderational analyses examined a) if optimism and pain self-efficacy moderate the relation between pain and HRQoL, and b) whether diagnostic status moderated the relation between optimism/pain self-efficacy and HRQoL. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, observational study, youth (n = 98; Mage = 13, SD = 3) experiencing abdominal pain related to FGIDs or OGIDs and one of their parents participated. Measures included pain intensity, optimism, pain self-efficacy, and HRQoL. Analyses controlled for diagnosis, age, and gender. RESULTS: Higher pain and age related to lower HRQoL. Higher levels of optimism and pain self-efficacy associated with HRQoL beyond demographics. Optimism and pain self-efficacy did not moderate the relation between pain and HRQoL. Diagnostic status did not moderate the relation between optimism or pain self-efficacy and HRQoL. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest positive relations between positive psychological factors (optimism, pain self-efficacy) and HRQoL in youth with abdominal pain. Such factors could be further examined in intervention studies.