Understanding the impacts of chronic pain on autistic adolescents and effective pain management: a reflexive thematic analysis adolescent–maternal dyadic study

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Jordan, A., Parchment, A., Gauntlett‐Gilbert, J., Jones, A., Donaghy, B., Wainwright, E., Connell, H., Walden, J., & Moore, D. (2024). Understanding the impacts of chronic pain on autistic adolescents and effective pain management: a reflexive thematic analysis adolescent–maternal dyadic study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 49(3), 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsae004

Publication date: 7 Feb 2024 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
9
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 9 (11.1%)
  1. Abbie Jordan
  2. Amelia Parchment
  3. Jeremy Gauntlett‐Gilbert
  4. Abigail Jones
  5. Bethany Donaghy *
  1. Elaine Wainwright
  2. Hannah Connell
  3. J. Walden
  4. David Moore

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Sensory elements are core features in chronic pain and autism, yet knowledge of the pain experience in autistic adolescents is limited. Little is known regarding how autistic adolescents experience chronic pain, manage their pain and perceive psychological treatment for their chronic pain. METHODS: Ten autistic adolescents (6 female, 3 male, and 1 self-identified as agender) with chronic pain and their mothers (n = 10) participated in semistructured interviews concerning their perceptions of living with chronic pain. Participants were recruited from U.K. pain management services. According to preference, interviews were conducted individually (n = 10) or dyadically (n = 10 participants across 5 dyads). Data were analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two themes were generated. Theme 1, "overstimulated and striving for control" described how adolescents' experience of heightened sensitivity enhanced adolescents' levels of anxiety and subsequent pain, illustrating a reciprocal relationship between anxiety, pain, and sensory elements. Theme 2, "not everyone fits the mold" captured how autistic adolescents positioned themselves as distinct from others due to the unique nature of being autistic and living with pain. This sense of difference negatively impacted adolescents' ability to engage with and benefit from the standard treatment for chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that autistic adolescents living with pain experience pain and face barriers to effective pain treatment. Our results identify the need for educational resources to facilitate clinicians to better understand the experience of autistic adolescents living with pain. In turn, such understanding may improve treatment and outcomes in this population.

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Cited references
56
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
5 / 56 (8.9%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
7 / 219 (3.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 7 / 62 (11.3%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 6 / 190 (3.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
62 / 219 (28.3%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 49 / 190 (25.8%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
55 / 62 (88.7%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 55 / 219 (25.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 43 / 49 (87.8%).
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