Longitudinal associations between pain in adolescence and substance use in emerging adulthood

This study tested for a longitudinal association between adolescent chronic pain and higher-risk substance use in emerging adulthood, and investigated potential moderators of the hypothesized relationship. A positive association between frequency of pain and substance use was hypothesized. Archival data were drawn from the long-running Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). At an initial assessment, youth aged 13-18 were surveyed regarding frequency of pain, substance use, sense of belonging, frequency of absence from activities, and demographic factors; a follow-up five years later (in emerging adulthood) assessed several measures of use of a number of substances. Using multiple regression analyses, the hypothesized longitudinal relationship between time-1 pain and time-2 substance use was supported for several measures of time-2 substance use. Analyses incorporating the potential moderators of school absence and sense of belonging were conducted for cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana, revealing a sole significant moderation of the relationship between time-1 pain and time-2 cigarette use by school absence. This study served as an initial foray into a significant gap in literature, addressing overlooked potential future mental health consequences of adolescent chronic pain. Results prompt a call for further research, to strengthen the knowledge base and to make progress toward developing long-term strategies promoting healthy transitions into adulthood for children suffering from chronic pain.M.A.Includes bibliographical referencesby David Alan Sherrel