A retrospective review of psychosocial correlates of chronic pain in cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse youth receiving evaluation in interdisciplinary pediatric pain clinics

dc.contributor.authorTracy, Crystal
dc.contributor.authorLynch Milder, Mary
dc.contributor.authorVater, Lindsey
dc.contributor.authorLagges, Ann
dc.contributor.authorLemanek, Kathleen
dc.contributor.authorWrona, Sharon
dc.contributor.authorGilbert, Elaine
dc.contributor.authorHirsh, Adam T.
dc.contributor.authorMiller, Megan M.
dc.contributor.authorDonahue, Kelly
dc.contributor.authorStreicher, Morgan
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Amy E.
dc.contributor.departmentPsychiatry, School of Medicine
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-13T07:42:29Z
dc.date.available2025-05-13T07:42:29Z
dc.date.issued2025-04-15
dc.description.abstractBackground: Individuals who experience social marginalization, such as transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth, have increased risk for poor health outcomes, including chronic pain. A better understanding of the impact of chronic pain in these populations would improve treatment and aid in reducing health care disparities. Our retrospective review of clinical data examined psychosocial correlates of pain in TGD and cisgender youth with chronic pain. Aims: The study aim was to explore differences in psychosocial variables between TGD and cisgender youth with chronic pain. In alignment with the minority stress model, we hypothesized worse pain and pain-related disability, poorer quality of life, and more internalizing symptoms in TGD patients. The secondary aim was to explore associations among psychosocial variables in TGD and cisgender youth. Methods: Data were collected from 140 youth (48 TGD, 92 cisgender) evaluated in pediatric pain clinics. Independent samples t-tests examined group differences in pain intensity, functional disability, quality of life, pain catastrophizing, and internalizing symptoms. Bivariate correlations were conducted for each group, and differences in the strength of correlations were evaluated using Fisher r-to-z. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained for all study procedures at each participating institution prior to extraction of retrospective clinical data (Indiana 240 University IRB Protocol No. 12506, The Ohio State University College of Medicine IRB Protocol No. 16-00937). Informed consent was not required or obtained due to the retrospective nature of the study. Results: Cisgender patients reported worse pain intensity, whereas TGD patients reported lower quality of life and more internalizing symptoms. In the combined sample, pain intensity was correlated with worse functional disability, poorer quality of life, and more catastrophic thinking. No group differences in the strength of correlations were found. Conclusions: Results suggest that for TGD youth with chronic pain, internalizing symptoms and quality of life are important targets for treatment and improvement.
dc.eprint.versionFinal published version
dc.identifier.citationTracy C, Lynch Milder M, Vater L, et al. A retrospective review of psychosocial correlates of chronic pain in cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse youth receiving evaluation in interdisciplinary pediatric pain clinics. Can J Pain. 2025;8(2):2477466. Published 2025 Apr 15. doi:10.1080/24740527.2025.2477466
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1805/48002
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis
dc.relation.isversionof10.1080/24740527.2025.2477466
dc.relation.journalCanadian Journal of Pain
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.sourcePMC
dc.subjectGender-diverse youth
dc.subjectTransgender youth
dc.subjectChronic pain
dc.subjectPediatric pain
dc.subjectPsychosocial correlates
dc.titleA retrospective review of psychosocial correlates of chronic pain in cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse youth receiving evaluation in interdisciplinary pediatric pain clinics
dc.typeArticle
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