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A Scoping Review of the Potential Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chronic Pain in Adulthood

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Dissertation(755 KB)

Date

2022

Authors

Supervisor

du Preez, Elizabeth
van Kessel, Kirsten

Item type

Degree name

Bachelor of Health Science (Honours)

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Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

In previous years, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified as having a potential relationship with poor health outcomes. Chronic pain is one health outcome that has a high prevalence worldwide and the numbers are continuing to grow. Thus, the aim of this scoping review was to review what the current research posited about the potential relationship between ACEs and chronic pain in adulthood. Using a combination of PRISMA-ScR and Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review frameworks, five databases were searched. Overall, 66 articles were included and further analysed by using a thematic analysis. From this thematic analysis, three themes were identified: there is a potential relationship between ACEs and chronic pain in adulthood; the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain in complex; and there is more that needs to be done to understand the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult chronic pain. Depression, anxiety and resilience emerged as mediating factors in the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain but do require further clarification. This scoping review did not identify any relevant studies within a New Zealand/Aotearoa context and recommendations include validating the ACE questionnaire for the New Zealand/Aotearoa population and identifying whether the ACE domains are relevant, and culturally sensitive and appropriate. This scoping review contributes to the understanding of the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain in adulthood in order to develop treatment options which might in turn contribute to reduction in negative health outcomes and an increase in healthcare utilization

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https://hdl.handle.net/10292/15865

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Bachelor with Honours Dissertations - open access