Experience of Maltreatment Is Associated With Abdominal Pain Intensity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Pain-Predominant Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2026 Apr;38(4):e70302. doi: 10.1111/nmo.70302.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Recent research suggests that early-life adversities, or adverse childhood events (ACEs), may play a role in the development and exacerbation of various chronic pain conditions. While this association is discussed in the adult literature, this study aimed to examine the relations among ACEs, abdominal pain, and health-related quality of life in children diagnosed with pain-predominant disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs).

METHODS: Participants consisted of 120 youth with a DGBI diagnosis involving chronic abdominal pain and their caregivers who responded to the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life Events Screener (PEARLS) tool. The PEARLS was organized by the following domains: Maltreatment (e.g., sexual, verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, and physical neglect), Household Challenges (e.g., caregiver mental or physical illness), and Social Context (e.g., housing and food insecurity). Child participants provided a retrospective 7 day rating of average abdominal pain intensity and completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.

RESULTS: Seventy-two (60%) caregivers reported that their child had experienced maltreatment. In adjusted models, results revealed that maltreatment was significantly associated with a greater 7-day average report of abdominal pain intensity (p < 0.05). Household challenges and social context were not significantly associated with abdominal pain intensity (both p's > 0.05). Additionally, the experience of maltreatment was significantly associated with worse overall health-related quality of life (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the profound impact that experiences of childhood maltreatment are likely to have on abdominal pain intensity and quality of life in pediatric patients with pain-predominant DGBI.

PMID:41944246 | DOI:10.1111/nmo.70302