To Örebro University

Background and aim: Back/neck pain is common in adolescents. Studies show correlations with social factors, such as bully victimization and individual social functioning (social anxiety). In adult pain populations, comorbid social anxiety has been correlated with higher symptomatology and worse treatment outcome. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of back/neck pain and to analyze the influence of bullying and social anxiety on back/neck pain over time in a general population sample of Swedish adolescents.

Method: Data consisted at baseline of all pupils in 7’th grade attending public schools in three Swedish municipalities (N= 1453, Mage= 13.19, sd= .43, 52.6 % boys), followed up yearly. Pupils were categorized as having a pain-problem based on self-reported pain frequency, pain intensity, and functional limitation. A multivariate logistic regression was conducted with bullying victimization, social anxiety, back/neck pain and gender at time 1 as predictors for back/neck pain at time 3.

Results: The prevalence of problematic back/neck pain was 8.4% (N= 122) at time 1, 10.5% (N=144) at time 2 and 9.9% (N=117) at time 3. The regression model was statistically significant (X² (4, N= 1181) = 84.46, p=.000). Gender, back/neck pain and bully victimization at time 1, but not social anxiety, significantly predicted pain problem at time 3.

Conclusions: External social factors rather than individual social function predicted back/neck pain. Since studies have found correlations between bully victimization and social anxiety and social anxiety may be prevalent and influence treatment outcomes in adult pain populations, this relationship should be studied further.