Association between recurrent pain and social context in middle-aged and older Brazilian adults: ELSI-Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Pain in middle-aged and older adults generates a significant global burden on public health. Investigating possible social factors associated with pain in the older people is relevant to the health of this population. Objectives: To analyse the association between social context and experience of recurrent pain in middle-aged and older adults. We also examined this association by stratifying the analysis based on sex, to assess the association between pain and sex. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). Brazilian individuals aged 50 years and older responded about the presence of pain. Participants also self-reported aspects related to social support, loneliness, life satisfaction, stressful life events, religiosity and limitations for analysing their social context. Multiple logistic regression model explored the association between social context (independent variables) and the presence of pain. Results: Data from 7873 individuals were analysed. Social support [Has a partner (OR:1.25; 95%CI 1.13 – 1.38)], loneliness [Lack of company (OR: 1.27; 95%CI 1.12 – 1.45), and feeling alone (OR: 1.23; 95%CI 1.07 – 1.41)], low satisfaction with life (OR: 1.39; 95%CI 1.22 – 1.57), experiencing stressful life events [Experiencing problems from children/grandchildren (OR: 1.74; 95%CI 1.52 – 1.97) and being a victim of violence (OR: 1.51; 95%CI 1.11 – 2.04)], not feeling accepted and participative in the religious group (OR: 1.34; 95%CI 1.12 – 1.61), and being limited by health from daily activities (OR: 2.21; 95%CI 1.98 – 2.47) were associated with the presence of pain. In the stratified analysis, the presence of pain was not associated with being a victim of violence or loneliness in the male subgroup, unlike the female subgroup. Age was not associated with pain in advanced age. Conclusion: Brazilian middle-aged and older adults who experienced recurrent pain were more likely to report physical limitations in doing pleasure activities, experiencing stressful life events, dissatisfaction with life, difficulty joining a religious group, feelings of loneliness, and having a partner.