Pagé, M. GabrielleStinson, JenniferCampbell, FionaIssac, LisaKatz, Joel2013-10-202013-10-2012/11/2012Journal of Pain Research 2012:5 547–5581178-7090http://hdl.handle.net/10315/26489Background: Post-surgical pain is prevalent in children, yet is significantly understudied. The goals of this study were to examine gender differences in pain outcomes and pain-related psychological constructs postoperatively and to identify pain-related psychological correlates of acute post-surgical pain (APSP) and predictors of functional disability 2 weeks after hospital discharge. Methods: Eighty-three children aged 8–18 (mean 13.8 ± 2.4) years who underwent major orthopedic or general surgery completed pain and pain-related psychological measures 48–72 hours and 2 weeks after surgery. Results: Girls reported higher levels of acute postoperative anxiety and pain unpleasantness compared with boys. In addition, pain anxiety was significantly associated with APSP intensity and functional disability 2 weeks after discharge, whereas pain catastrophizing was associated with APSP unpleasantness. Conclusion: These results highlight the important role played by pain-related psychological factors in the experience of pediatric APSP by children and adolescents.enOriginal publication in: Journal of Pain Research, Dove Medical Press, Ltd.acute post-surgical pain, children, adolescents, pain anxiety, pain catastrophizingArticlehttp://www.dovepress.com/journal-of-pain-research-journalhttp://www.dovepress.com/http://www.dovepress.com/pain-related-psychological-correlates-of-pediatric-acute-post-surgical-peer-reviewed-article-JPR