Prevalence,severity and impact of chronic pain among a representative cross-sectional study of New Zealand high school students

Aim

To report the prevalence of self-reported chronic pain and severity among young people in New Zealand and explore the relationships between pain and mental health, substance use, socialisation and school engagement.

Methods

Prevalence of self-reported chronic pain frequency and severity are reported from an anonymous, representative cross-sectional self-administered health and well-being questionnaire by students aged 12–18 years in New Zealand. Multivariable models exploring chronic pain and mental health, substance use, socialisation and school engagement are reported controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability and history of sexual abuse.

Results

Overall, 22.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 21.2–24.5) of young people reported chronic pain for 6 months or more, with 3.2% (95% CI 3.1–4.5) reporting severe pain weekly or more often. Females and rural adolescents were more likely to report chronic and severe pain. Asian youth reported less pain than other ethnic groups. Increased severity of pain was associated more with poorer daily functioning and socialising than with frequency of pain. Severe pain occurring weekly or more often was more common among students who had a disability (2.3% 95% CI 1.8–2.7 vs. 9.8%, 95% CI 7.2–12.5) or a history of sexual abuse (2.4% 95% 1.9–2.9 vs. 8.5%, 95% CI 6.3–10.5). Those reporting chronic pain had higher proportions of self-reported significant depressive symptoms, lower well-being, lower school engagement and lower access to health care, particularly for those reporting higher levels of intensity and frequency of pain.

Conclusions

Chronic pain is common in adolescent populations, and has a significant association with decreased daily functioning, socialising, school engagement and mental well-being. Adolescents with chronic pain report significant unmet health-care needs.