Adverse childhood experiences and chronic pain in adults aged 86: findings from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adverse childhood experiences and chronic pain in adults aged 86

T2 - findings from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

AU - Senaratne, Dhaneesha N. S.

AU - Singleton, Sam

AU - Timmins, Kate

AU - Spiteri, Jeanette

AU - Redmond, Paul

AU - Taylor, Adele

AU - Corley, Janie

AU - Page, Danielle

AU - Rennie, Janine

AU - Wang, Huan

AU - Verriotis, Madeleine

AU - Walker, Suellen M.

AU - Sen, Debajit

AU - Macfarlane, Gary J.

AU - Colvin, Lesley A.

AU - Caes, Line

AU - Cox, Simon R.

AU - Hales, Tim

N1 - © 2025 Senaratne, Singleton, Timmins, Spiteri, Redmond, Taylor, Corley, Page, Rennie, Wang, Verriotis, Walker, Sen, Macfarlane, Colvin, Caes, Cox and Hales.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Background: Chronic pain, a major cause of disability, is prevalent in older people. Exposure to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with increased levels of chronic pain in later life. However, this association has not been investigated in people aged older than 80 years. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain in people with a mean age of 86 years, participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Methods: A survey co-developed by researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience (PWLE) that assessed chronic pain and ACEs was completed by 229 participants (response rate 67%). Associations between ACE exposure and chronic pain were investigated using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Results showed that 58% reported chronic pain, with a higher prevalence in females. Furthermore, 69% of participants with chronic pain reported moderate or severe pain interference and 82% reported at least 1 ACE, with 25% indicating exposure to ≥4 ACEs. The most frequently reported exposure was community violence (48%). Males were more likely to report any ACE, physical neglect, bullying, and community violence. No significant association was found between ACEs and chronic pain status, severity, or interference in this cohort. Discussion: This study, the first to adapt ACE and chronic pain questionnaires with input from PWLE, suggests that the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain may be less relevant in people in their eighties compared to younger populations. These findings have implications for trauma-informed care and pharmacological treatment in older adults.

AB - Background: Chronic pain, a major cause of disability, is prevalent in older people. Exposure to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with increased levels of chronic pain in later life. However, this association has not been investigated in people aged older than 80 years. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain in people with a mean age of 86 years, participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Methods: A survey co-developed by researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience (PWLE) that assessed chronic pain and ACEs was completed by 229 participants (response rate 67%). Associations between ACE exposure and chronic pain were investigated using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Results showed that 58% reported chronic pain, with a higher prevalence in females. Furthermore, 69% of participants with chronic pain reported moderate or severe pain interference and 82% reported at least 1 ACE, with 25% indicating exposure to ≥4 ACEs. The most frequently reported exposure was community violence (48%). Males were more likely to report any ACE, physical neglect, bullying, and community violence. No significant association was found between ACEs and chronic pain status, severity, or interference in this cohort. Discussion: This study, the first to adapt ACE and chronic pain questionnaires with input from PWLE, suggests that the relationship between ACEs and chronic pain may be less relevant in people in their eighties compared to younger populations. These findings have implications for trauma-informed care and pharmacological treatment in older adults.

KW - biopsychosocial model

KW - childhood adversity

KW - chronic pain

KW - oldest adults

KW - trauma-informed care

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020417294

U2 - 10.3389/fragi.2025.1657525

DO - 10.3389/fragi.2025.1657525

M3 - Article

C2 - 41181396

VL - 6

JO - Frontiers in Aging

JF - Frontiers in Aging

M1 - 1657525

ER -