Exploration of affirmation of childhood molestation (sexual abuse) in chronic pain patients, acute pain patients, community patients with pain and community nonpatients without pain.

OBJECTIVES

To further explore the controversy as to whether childhood molestation is associated with chronic pain in adulthood.

DESIGN

Community nonpatients without pain (CNPWP), community patients with pain (CPWP), acute pain patients (APPs), and chronic pain patients (CPPs) were compared for endorsement of affirmation of childhood molestation by chi-square. Logistic regression was utilized to predict affirmation in male and female CPPs.

RESULTS

A significantly higher percentage of male APPs affirmed molestation versus CNPWP and CPWP. No other comparisons were statistically significant for males. For females, no comparisons were significant. For male CPPs, the behavior health inventory-2 (BHI-2) survivor of violence scale and 1 item from this scale predicted affirmation. The following BHI-2 scales and items predicted affirmation for female CPPs: muscular bracing and survivor of violence scales; the item "I have been a victim of many sexual attacks"; and the item "My father was kind and loving to me when I was growing up" (scored opposite direction).

CONCLUSIONS

In female PWCP, the prevalence of childhood molestation is not greater than in a number of unique comparison groups. Unique predictors of childhood molestation are yet to be identified.