Disabil Rehabil. 2025 Dec 5:1-23. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2595180. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Children and adolescents with chronic pain experience lasting impacts on quality of life, often persisting into adulthood. Inadequate lifestyle factors (LSFs) such as physical inactivity, stress, poor sleep, and unhealthy nutrition can worsen pain severity. This scoping review assesses the extent to which LSFs are addressed in pediatric pain education materials and provides recommendations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted across six databases, targeting children and adolescents (ages 6-19) receiving pain education. Educational materials were screened for LSFs and critically appraised for understandability and actionability.
RESULTS: Sixteen studies and 13 educational materials were analyzed. While materials showed good understandability, they lacked sufficient actionability. LSFs, particularly physical activity and stress, were incorporated into pain education. Content was found in seven materials for physical activity, one for screen time, four for sleep, seven for stress, and two for nutrition. Recommendations for improving physical activity were found in eight materials, reducing screen time in one, improving sleep in four, reducing stress in five, and improving nutrition in three.
CONCLUSION: Available educational materials do not comprehensively address LSFs or provide actionable strategies for change. More studies are needed to reach a consensus on recommendations and integrate them into educational materials.Implications for RehabilitationEducational materials should comprehensively cover all lifestyle factors associated with chronic pain, including physical activity, stress management, sleep, nutrition, and screen time, to provide a holistic approach to pain management in pediatric rehabilitation.By integrating concrete and practical strategies into educational materials, children and adolescents can better recognize what actions they can take themselves to influence their chronic pain.
PMID:41348464 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2025.2595180
