PSYCHOLOGICAL-FACTORS AFFECTING REPORTED PAIN IN JUVENILE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Examined the extent to which psychological variables are correlated wi th pain reported by children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). In a hierarchical multiple regression analysis with pain as the depen dent variable, four psychological measures of child and family functio ning resulted in a significant increase in R2 = .31, p < .0001, after the effects of disease characteristics were considered. Greater emotio nal distress in the child, greater emotional distress of the mother, a nd greater family harmony were related to higher reported pain. Findin gs suggest that more attention should be given to nonpharmacological a spects of pain and pain management in children with JRA.