Maladaptive Coping and Depressive Symptoms Partially Explain the Association Between Family Stress and Pain-Related Distress in Youth With IBD

Abstract

Objective: To extend existing research on the pain burden experienced by youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by examining the complexity of psychosocial factors involved in pain-related distress.

Methods: Parents completed measures of family stress and their child's pain-related expressions of distress and coping. Youth with IBD rated their depressive symptoms (n = 183 dyads). Mediation analyses were performed using regression-based techniques and bootstrapping.

Results: Greater family stress was positively related to children's pain-related expressions of distress and passive coping. Significant indirect effects were found in the relationship between family stress and expressed pain-related distress through parent-reported passive coping, depressive symptoms, and both passive coping and depressive symptoms sequentially.

Conclusions: Results suggest that family stress can place children at risk for greater expressed pain-related distress through effects on coping and depressive symptoms. Addressing psychosocial difficulties is important for closing the gap between disability and health in youth with IBD.

Keywords: coping; depression; inflammatory bowel disease; pain.