Testing Gender as a Moderator of Associations Between Psychosocial Variables and Functional Disability in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain

ObjectiveTo evaluate gender as a moderator of associations between psychosocial variables and functional disability in children and adolescents with chronic pain.MethodParticipants included 266 patients (177 girls; mean age 13.3 years) with chronic or recurrent headache or abdominal pain who were evaluated at a pediatric chronic pain clinic. Patients completed measures of pain intensity, anxiety, depression, pain coping, and functional disability. Parents completed a measure of protective behavior.ResultsGirls and boys reported similar levels of pain intensity. Girls were more likely to endorse depressive symptoms, and internalizing symptoms were associated with disability in girls, not in boys. No gender differences were found in links between coping and protective parenting and disability.ConclusionsIn general, psychosocial factors influenced functional disability similarly in girls and boys, although some gender differences were found. Findings highlight the importance of considering child gender when evaluating factors that contribute to functional disability.