Objective: To explore relations between family functioning and child acute pain, including pain ratings, coping, and parent–child behaviors.
Methods: Community sample of 171 dyads including one child aged 8–12 years (52% girls) and one parent (79% mothers). Family functioning was assessed via child and parent self-report, and observation during a conflict discussion task. Children and parents rated pain catastrophizing at baseline, and child pain and distress following a cold pressor task (CPT). Parent–child interactions during the CPT were coded for observed behaviors during child pain.
Results: Self-report of poorer family functioning predicted greater child and parent pain catastrophizing, and parent distress. Less observed family negativity/conflict and cohesiveness, and greater family focus of problems and parent emotional support predicted more child symptom complaints. Family functioning was not associated with child pain or distress.
Conclusions: Family functioning influenced parent and child coping and child behavioral responses, but not the experience, of acute pain.
Keywords: acute pain; cold pressor; dyadic analysis; family functioning; pain catastrophizing; parents; pain.