A Phenomenological Exploration of the Personal Implications of Female Adolescents Living With Chronic Pain

Introduction: Chronic pain (CP) negatively impacts everyday previously taken-for-granted activities resulting in considerable psychosocial stress for the individual. Qualitative research in pediatric CP is limited despite the considerable influence CP has on the process of establishing one's personal identity during these formative years and invites the opportunity to understand how CP affects these young individuals from their perspective. The objective of the study was to inquire into the experiences of female adolescents living with CP in order to enhance our understanding of how CP affects their personal lives. Method: We used an interpretive phenomenological approach; two researchers interviewed eight female patients of the Montreal Children's Hospital Chronic Pain Management Clinic (aged 14–17 years) for one session each. Results: Self-reported factors that improved these female adolescents’ personal life included having engaging hobbies, accepting the incurability of CP, and envisioning a fulfilling future. Discussion: The findings from this study suggest a need to orient CP-related services around goals and interests that female adolescents living with CP set for themselves in order to improve their perceived quality of life.