Relation Between Child Trait Anxiety and Response to Experimental Pain

Abstract

This study investigated the relation between child trait anxiety, as reported by parents and children, and children?s pain intensity ratings and pain tolerance following a cold pressor trial. The relation between child and parent reports of child trait anxiety was also explored. Participants included 151 healthy children ages 5 to 16 years. Parents were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children-Parent Report-Trait version and children were administered the Revised Manifest Children?s Anxiety Scale. Children completed a baseline cold pressor trial at 7�C. Parent- and child-reported child trait anxiety did not significantly predict pain tolerance or pain intensity. Parent reports of child trait anxiety were not significantly correlated with child self-reports of trait anxiety. Replication with a sample of older children with higher levels of trait anxiety is recommended. Future studies may also benefit from utilizing trait anxiety questionnaires that have both child self-report and parent-proxy versions.