Childhood Trauma and the Risk of Chronic Pain Later in Life
Researchers from McGill University in Canada have identified a clear link between traumatic events in childhood and a higher risk of developing chronic pain syndromes in adulthood. The findings appear in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology.
The study expands on the conclusions of 57 prior investigations into how early adversity affects long-term physical health. It analyzed data from a large pool of participants, totaling more than 80,000 volunteers. Across the research projects, investigators collected information about participants’ physical health and asked them to report experiences of abuse—physical, sexual, or emotional—as well as various forms of neglect during childhood.
One meta-analysis within the broader body of work showed that individuals who faced multiple forms of abuse or neglect in childhood were about 45% more likely to report chronic pain in adulthood compared with those who did not experience trauma. In addition, physical abuse in childhood was linked to a greater probability of disability due to chronic illness later in life.
The authors emphasize that gaining a deeper understanding of the precise relationship between childhood trauma and chronic pain could help healthcare professionals design targeted strategies to lessen the enduring negative effects of violence. They also note that the mechanisms connecting these two phenomena require further investigation to reveal how early experiences shape later health outcomes.
Previously, researchers explored whether increased gadget use among children is associated with autism risk, illustrating the ongoing interest in how early life factors influence later health and development.