Children of chronic pain sufferers: Assessing their social competence.

Literature on chronic pain has identified alexithymia, depression and marital difficulties as characteristics of chronic pain populations. Previous research has also linked these parental characteristics with social competence deficits in children, suggesting a need to assess the social skills of chronic pain sufferers\u27 children. In the current study, samples of chronic pain sufferers and pain-free participants were compared in terms of levels of alexithymia, depression and marital difficulties as well as in their children\u27s social competence. The predictive value of these parental characteristics and others for children\u27s social competence was also investigated. Gender differences in social competence and correlates of boys\u27 and girls\u27 social competence were also assessed. No group differences were found in children\u27s social skills levels but chronic pain sufferers did report more depression and alexithymia than pain-free participants. Children\u27s social competence across both groups was predicted by children\u27s age and by parental alexithymia. In the pain sample, children\u27s social skills were predicted by the length of time for which they were exposed to their parent\u27s pain, parental pain intensity, depression, and alexithymia. Contrary to prediction, level of marital satisfaction was not an important predictor of children\u27s social competence. No gender differences were found in children\u27 s social skills but results suggested they did differ on correlates of their social competence. Implications of these findings for intervention in chronic pain families are discussed.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1996 .B48. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0363. Adviser: Cheryl Thomas. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1996