Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

Background Chronic pain is progressively receiving attention as a universal public health priority. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the prevalence of chronic pain in the coming years, particularly among youth. Chronic pain can be stressful and have a significant impact on young p...

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Main Authors: Roberta L. Woodgate, Ashley Bell, Julianna Petrasko, Christine J. Neilson, Olabisi Ayeni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Pain
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2025.2455494
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author Roberta L. Woodgate
Ashley Bell
Julianna Petrasko
Christine J. Neilson
Olabisi Ayeni
author_facet Roberta L. Woodgate
Ashley Bell
Julianna Petrasko
Christine J. Neilson
Olabisi Ayeni
author_sort Roberta L. Woodgate
collection DOAJ
description Background Chronic pain is progressively receiving attention as a universal public health priority. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the prevalence of chronic pain in the coming years, particularly among youth. Chronic pain can be stressful and have a significant impact on young people and their family.Aims The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the best available qualitative evidence on the coping experiences of youth living with chronic pain and to note whether there were any differences in their coping experiences.Methods A multi-database search was conducted including child development and adolescent studies. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus were searched for eligible English-language articles from inception to December 2023. Out of 1625 article titles and abstracts screened for eligibility, 280 articles underwent full-text screening, with 20 ultimately meeting all inclusion criteria. We conducted a thematic analysis of data extracted from the 20 reviewed articles.Results We arrived at two synthesized findings. A Different Way of Being considers the experience of being a youth with chronic pain. Learning to Get By looks at the coping strategies youth use to manage their chronic pain and involved youth using self-directed strategies, as well as relying on external supports.Conclusions It is apparent from these synthesized findings that youths’ lives have been significantly impacted by chronic pain. Findings from this study can be used to support the care and well-being of youth living with chronic pain.
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spelling doaj-art-3b21f9168dfb4c12873ce4a9e55c5aaf2025-08-20T03:12:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCanadian Journal of Pain2474-05272025-12-019110.1080/24740527.2025.2455494Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidenceRoberta L. Woodgate0Ashley Bell1Julianna Petrasko2Christine J. Neilson3Olabisi Ayeni4College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaCollege of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaCollege of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaNeil John Maclean Health Sciences Library, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaCollege of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaBackground Chronic pain is progressively receiving attention as a universal public health priority. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the prevalence of chronic pain in the coming years, particularly among youth. Chronic pain can be stressful and have a significant impact on young people and their family.Aims The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the best available qualitative evidence on the coping experiences of youth living with chronic pain and to note whether there were any differences in their coping experiences.Methods A multi-database search was conducted including child development and adolescent studies. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus were searched for eligible English-language articles from inception to December 2023. Out of 1625 article titles and abstracts screened for eligibility, 280 articles underwent full-text screening, with 20 ultimately meeting all inclusion criteria. We conducted a thematic analysis of data extracted from the 20 reviewed articles.Results We arrived at two synthesized findings. A Different Way of Being considers the experience of being a youth with chronic pain. Learning to Get By looks at the coping strategies youth use to manage their chronic pain and involved youth using self-directed strategies, as well as relying on external supports.Conclusions It is apparent from these synthesized findings that youths’ lives have been significantly impacted by chronic pain. Findings from this study can be used to support the care and well-being of youth living with chronic pain.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2025.2455494chronic painyouthcopingsystematic reviewqualitativeyouth experiences
spellingShingle Roberta L. Woodgate
Ashley Bell
Julianna Petrasko
Christine J. Neilson
Olabisi Ayeni
Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
Canadian Journal of Pain
chronic pain
youth
coping
systematic review
qualitative
youth experiences
title Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
title_full Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
title_fullStr Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
title_full_unstemmed Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
title_short Coping in youth living with chronic pain: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
title_sort coping in youth living with chronic pain a systematic review of qualitative evidence
topic chronic pain
youth
coping
systematic review
qualitative
youth experiences
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2025.2455494
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AT ashleybell copinginyouthlivingwithchronicpainasystematicreviewofqualitativeevidence
AT juliannapetrasko copinginyouthlivingwithchronicpainasystematicreviewofqualitativeevidence
AT christinejneilson copinginyouthlivingwithchronicpainasystematicreviewofqualitativeevidence
AT olabisiayeni copinginyouthlivingwithchronicpainasystematicreviewofqualitativeevidence