Intergenerational Transmission of Chronic Pain: A Narrative Analysis of Story(telling) of Pain Journeys as Social Learning Between Parents and Youth
Date
2021-09-17
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Abstract
Background. Chronic headache is highly prevalent and persistent from childhood into adulthood and has a strong intergenerational component. The intergenerational transmission of chronic pain conceptual model posits that parental social learning factors may exert a powerful influence on children who also have chronic pain. (Story)telling occurs intergenerationally within families and between children and their parents, an avenue of social learning not previous explored. This study examined narratives of parent-child dyads where both members had pain. Method. Twenty-six youth and parents with chronic headaches recruited from a tertiary level pediatric pain clinic separately completed in-depth interviews about children’s pain journey narratives. Narrative analysis incorporated elements of socio-narratology to compare between and within dyads. Results. Five narrative types were generated: 1) Mistreated by the Medical System- neglect, harm and broken promises resulting in learned hopelessness or relying on the family system, 2) Washed Away by the Pain-unable to overcome insurmountable challenges and letting the pain take over, 3) The Invalidated-invalidation of pain permeated youth’s lives, with mothers as empathic buffers, 4) The Trauma Origin Story- parents, but not youth, positing traumatic events as the causal link to children’s pain, and 5) Taking the Power Back from Pain- children’s ability to live life and accomplish goals in spite of pain. Discussion. Findings support the clinical utility of narrative in pediatric pain, including both parents’ and children’s narrative accounts to improve clinical encounters and broader social implications of chronic pain.
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Keywords
headache, narrative, social learning, intergenerational transmission, chronic pain
Citation
Lund, T. C. (2021). Intergenerational Transmission of Chronic Pain: A Narrative Analysis of Story(telling) of Pain Journeys as Social Learning Between Parents and Youth (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.