Caes, Line

Goubert, Liesbet

Matthys, Dirk

Van Hoecke, Eline

Van Winckel, Myriam

Vervoort, Tine

English

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

DALHOUSIE PAIN DAY (MAY 3RD, 2013) – ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM Abstract Title: Parents who experience their child’s chronic pain as highly threatening and distressing have a higher priority for pain control goals  Presenting Author*: Caes Line1,2 *(presenting author must register)  Co-Authors: Vervoort Tine2, Van Winckel Myriam3, Matthys Dirk3, Vanhoecke Eline3, & Goubert Liesbet2  Department(s):  1 Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada 2 Ghent University, Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium 3 University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium  Abstract (max. 250 words): When parents are confronted with their child’s pain, pursuing the goal of controlling child pain is likely to be prioritized- at the expense of pursuing other goals. However, in the context of chronic pain, it may be more beneficial for child daily functioning if parents find a flexible balance between pain-control and other important goals. The current study investigated whether flexibly switching from pain-controlling goals towards other valued goals in the child’s life (e.g., school, leisure-related) is particularly difficult to achieve in parents who highly catastrophize and feel distressed about child pain. Twenty-two parents of a child with chronic tension headache (N=2) or functional abdominal pain (N=20; 23% boys; Mage=9.09; Mpain duration=20.21) reported on their catastrophic thoughts, distress experience, and child-related goal priorities and -flexibility in response to child pain during a home visit. : Spearman correlation analyses indicated that high levels of parental catastrophic thinking and distress feelings were both associated with prioritizing pain-control goals and being less flexible to adjust their pain-control goals. Moreover, heightened distress in parents was also associated with more difficulties in pursuing other important goals in their child’s life. Further qualitative analyses will be performed to assess thematic content of goals generated by the parent. These findings provide preliminary evidence indicating that parents who catastrophize about child pain and experience child pain as highly distressing might be at risk to persevere in pursuing pain-control goals, which may be dysfunctional, particularly in the context of repeated failed attempts to control child pain. DEADLINE: THURSDAY APRIL 12TH – 4:00 PM SEND ELECTRONICALLY TO: CARLA.ROSS@DAL.CA 

Parents who experience their child’s chronic pain as highly threatening and distressing have a higher priority for pain control goals

Spearman correlations:      parental catastrophizing:       parental distress frequency & difficultyimportance & priority of pain-controlpsychological flexibilityObjectiveMethodParents who experience their child’s chronic pain as highly threatening and distressing have a higher priority for pain-control goalsLine Caes, PhD.*, Tine Vervoort, PhD., Myriam Van Winckel, PhD., Dirk Matthys, PhD.,  Eline Van Hoecke, PhD. & Liesbet, Goubert PhD.*Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre: line.caes@iwk.nshealth.caParticipants: 26 mothers (Mage= 39.23; SD = 5.48) of children with chronic functional abdominal pain or tension headaches (5♂, 21♀; Mage = 9.50; SD = 2.55; 4 - 14; Mpain duration= 19.18 months; SD = 21.12; 2 - 96)Measures: Parents reported (during a home-visit) on:- level of catastrophic thinking about child pain- level of distress (frequency & difficulty) in response to child pain- goals regarding child school, social functioning, leisure, health, painConclusionResultsWhen confronted with chronic pain in their child, parents will likely prioritize the goal of pain control at the expense of pursuing other goals (e.g., school, leisure). However, it may be more beneficial for child functioning if parents find a flexible balance between pain-control and other important goals. Finding this balance might prove difficult for high catastrophizing parents, due to their excessive focus on pain.The aim of the current study is twofold:- exploring the content of parental goals when confronted with chronic pain in their child- investigating whether flexibly switching from pain-control goals towards other valued goals (i.e., psychological flexibility) is difficult to achieve in parents with catastrophic thoughts about child painParents who catastrophize about child pain and experience child pain as highly distressing might be at risk to persevere in pursuing pain-control goals, which may be dysfunctional, particularly when attempts to control child pain are futile (cfr., in the context of chronic pain) Furthermore, parental feelings of distress might have an important impact on goal priorities of high catastrophizers. Future research is needed investigating whether the perseverance and prioritization of pain-control might serve to alleviate own evoked feelings of distress.   parental distress-difficulty:       importance & priority of pain-controlpsychological flexibilityThematic analyses identified following themes in parental goals for :school, social functioning, & leisure:  1) participate & persevere; 2) having fun; 3) being competent; 4) gaining knowledge & skills; 5) personal, social & emotional developmentHealth: 1) food consumption; 2) sufficient movement; 3) life-stylePain: 1) pain-control; 2) life despite pain; 3) cognitive-affective aspects

Parents who experience their child’s chronic pain as highly threatening and distressing have a higher priority for pain-control goals

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/5717208/file/5717209

Parents who experience their child’s chronic pain as highly threatening and distressing have a higher priority for pain control goals

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Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Ghent University Academic Bibliography