Depression, life satisfaction and perceived maternal support in adolescents of mothers with chronic pain

The purpose of this cross-sectional, correlational comparative study was to explore the relationship between selected features of the maternal chronic pain experience and the health of the adolescent family member. Twenty-seven adolescents living with mothers who had persistent chronic pain were matched on age, gender and maternal education with 26 adolescents whose mothers had no chronic illness. The two groups of adolescents completed questionnaires measuring their levels of depression (Beck Depression Inventory), life satisfaction (Cantril Ladder) and perceived level of maternal support (Maternal Support Questionnaire). Mothers completed questionnaires measuring pain intensity (VAS), pain distress (VAS), disability (3 item questionnaire) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory).The two adolescent groups did not differ in terms of depression, life satisfaction or perceived maternal support. Maternal support, however, was demonstrated to be related to the level of depression and life satisfaction for adolescents whose mothers had chronic pain. The results of this study demonstrated that the health status of the adolescent whose mothers had chronic pain was comparable to those adolescents whose mothers had no chronic illness.Possible explanations for the results may be related to the sample, measurement issues or the age of the adolescents. The study extends current research findings by considering maternal support to be associated with the maternal chronic pain experience and the adolescent health status