Advisor(s)
Burel Goodin
Aaron Fobian
Committee Member(s)
David Schwebel
Kathryn Phillips
Reed Dimmitt
Sarah O'Kelley
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Psychology
Date of Award
6-13-2025
Abstract
Background Children living with chronic pain are at risk for many negative physical and mental health consequences. However, certain positive attributes and factors can help lessen or prevent such consequences. Children with painful disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) experience deficits in social, emotional, and physical functioning. However, it is unknown whether a combination of individual and family-based resilience factors may lower these risks and contribute to improved physical and mental health responses. Methods 120 children with painful DGBIs were recruited from a pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Children and caregivers completed a series of questionnaires measuring individual and family-based resilience resources (e.g., hope), mechanisms (e.g., coping), and responses (e.g., health-related quality of life) implicated in the pediatric resilience and pain literatures. Statistical modeling evaluated relationships between resilience resources and mechanisms and their association with physical and mental health responses. Results Emotion-focused avoidance (e.g., negative internalizing and externalizing responses to pain) mediated the relationships between hope and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, and depressive symptoms. None of the other mediation models involving hope and coping strategy use were significant. Greater “internal” health locus of control was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Greater “chance” health locus of control was associated with greater depressive symptoms and greater deficits in pain-related self-efficacy. Greater “doctors” health locus of control was associated with fewer deficits in pain-related self-efficacy. Greater family relationship quality was associated with fewer deficits in pain-related self-efficacy, lower abdominal pain intensity, higher HRQoL, and fewer depressive symptoms. Better pain-related self-efficacy was associated with lower abdominal pain intensity, higher HRQoL, and lower anxiety and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Results suggest that maladaptive responses to pain (i.e., emotion-focused avoidance) may contribute to worse HRQoL and greater internalizing symptoms in youth with painful DGBIs. Additionally, health locus of control, family relationship quality, and pain-related self-efficacy appear to be related to the resilience of youth with painful DGBIs. Findings point to several potential targets of intervention for youth with these conditions. Future directions include piloting an adapted cognitive-behavioral therapy that targets resilience factors (e.g., hope, coping, self-efficacy) in youth with painful DGBIs.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Evans, Corinne Taylor, "Understanding The Roles Of Individual And Family-Based Resilience Resources And Mechanisms In Youth With Painful Disorders Of Gut-Brain Interaction" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7335.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7335
