The impact of chronic pain on school functioning in young people.

Citation

Caes L & Logan D (2019) The impact of chronic pain on school functioning in young people.. In: Wainwright E & Eccleston C (eds.) Work and pain: A lifespan development approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 51-64. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198828273.003.0005

Abstract
School plays a central role in young people’s lives, offering a developmental environment that fosters crucial academic, emotional, cognitive, and social milestones. This chapter presents a critical discussion of how a young person’s school functioning can be negatively affected by chronic pain. We highlight how the impact of chronic pain, and associated psychosocial factors, goes beyond school absenteeism to influence school engagement, executive functioning skills, and social skills development. Furthermore, the challenges teachers face to provide an inclusive school environment for young people with chronic pain will be discussed in depth. The chapter ends with suggestions of how to overcome the barriers to implementing a comprehensive approach towards school functioning within both research and clinical practice, including reviewing standardized tools to assess school impairment and offering guidance for biopsychosocially informed approaches to foster adaptive school functioning in young people with chronic pain.