Effects of perceived stress on pediatric chronic pain.

The dearth of theoretically driven research on the predictors of pediatric chronic pain may unwittingly contribute to needless suffering in children and adolescents by underinvestigating a potentially treatable condition. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hypothesized predictive effects of perceived stress on pediatric chronic pain intensity in 148 children and adolescents. Consistent with the a priori Biobehavioral Model of Pediatric Pain, higher perceived stress was predictive of greater pediatric pain intensity. The results are discussed with regard to the implications for cognitive-behavioral pediatric pain treatment.