GROWING PAINS - CLINICAL AND BEHAVIORAL-CORRELATES IN A COMMUNITY SAMPLE

Parents of 183 children identified them as having ''pain in arms, legs , or joints during the previous 12 months.'' This group was compared w ith a group of children without pains selected randomly from the rest of a 1605-member community-based cohort in a study of chronic illness. The pains were most likely to be deep seated, to involve predominantl y the lower limbs, and to be described in vague, nonspecific terms. Th ese children were significantly more likely to have recurrent abdomina l pain, a negative mood, and behavior problems, and to be aggressive, anxious, and hyperactive. There were no differences between the groups on any teacher ratings of behavior, temperament, social skills, or ac ademic achievement. We conclude that children with ''growing pains'' a re rated by their parents, but not their teachers, as having different temperamental and behavioral profiles than controls. These data sugge st a psychosocial contribution to growing pains akin to that seen with other pain syndromes.