Objective:
The aim of this study was to describe how
different adolescents experience and manage pain in
their daily life, with a focus on their use of over-the-
counter analgesics. More specifically, the aim was to
explore different patterns among the adolescents in
pain descriptions, in the management of pain, in
relationships with others, and in their daily life.
Design:
Qualitative semistructured interviews on
experiences with pain, pain management and
involvement of family and friends during pain. Pain and
stress management strategies and attachment theory
will be in focus for interpretations.
Participants and setting:
25 participants aged 15
–
16-years from six different junior high schools, both
genders, with and without immigrant background were
interviewed at their local schools in Norway.
Results:
We identified 4 groups of adolescents with
similarities in attitudes and management strategies to
pain:
‘
pain is manageable
’
,
‘
pain is communicable
’
,
‘
pain is inevitable
’
and
‘
pain is all over
’
. The
participants within each group differed in how they
engaged their parents in pain; how they perceived,
communicated and managed pain; and how they
involved emotions and used over-the-counter
analgesics.
Conclusions:
The adolescents
’
different involvement
with the family during pain related to their pain
perception and management. Knowledge of the
different ways of approaching pain is important when
supporting adolescents and may be a subject for
further research on the use of over-the-counter
analgesics in the family.