The Role of Benefit Finding in the Relationship Between Pain and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Youth With Chronic Pain

Abstract

Objectives: Chronic pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) co-occur in youth at high rates. Current conceptual models of mutual maintenance do not identify specific youth resilience factors, such as benefit finding in this co-occurrence. Benefit finding is the process of perceiving positive benefits as the results of experiencing adversity. It has been viewed as a potential mitigator for illness symptoms; however, only minimal cross-sectional research has been conducted and none has longitudinally examined the possible buffering effect of benefit finding in the co-occurrence of chronic pain and PTSS in youth. This longitudinal investigation examined whether benefit finding changes over time, influences pain outcomes and moderates the relationship between PTSS and chronic pain in a clinical sample of youth with chronic pain. Methods: Youth (N =105, Female = 78.1%) with chronic pain between the ages of 7–17 years (M = 13.70; SD = 2.47) participated. Participants completed measures at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to assess pain intensity and interference, PTSS, and benefit finding. Results: Benefit finding did not significantly change over time. Cross-sectionally, benefit finding at 3 months significantly explained the variance in pain interference and intensity at 3 months. Benefit finding at 3 months did not significantly moderate the relationship between baseline PTSS and pain interference or intensity at 6 months. Discussion: These findings replicate previous research that found positive cross-sectional associations between PTSS and chronic pain, and between benefit finding and worse pain intensity and interference. Further research on resilience in pediatric chronic pain is needed.