https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Noyek2023

Noyek, S., Lund, T., Jordan, A., Hoppe, T., Mitchell, R., Mitchell, R., Stinson, J., & Noel, M. (2023). Exploring the lived experiences of pain in military families: A qualitative examination. The Journal of Pain, 24(12), 2340-2351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.016

This qualitative study was conducted to understand how military families experience and manage physical pain. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Service members and Veterans (n = 12, the majority experiencing chronic pain) and their children (n = 17) and spouses (n = 6) were interviewed about their own and their family members’ experience of pain. 4 themes emerged that described how the military mindset shaped CAF families’ experience of pain.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.016

Physical health
Children
Parents
Veterans

International Military
Multiple branches

Veteran

Veteran
Spouse of service member or veteran
Child of a service member or veteran

Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Qualitative Study

Noyek, Samantha, Lund, Tatiana, Jordan, Abbie, Hoppe, Tom, Mitchell, Rebekah, Mitchell, Ryan, Stinson, Jennifer, Noel, Melanie

Chronic pain in Canadian Veterans is twice that of the general population and the prevalence of their related mental health concerns is alarmingly high. This likely puts their children at an increased risk of developing pain and mental health problems that can pervasively impact daily life and persist into adulthood. Pain care and military culture of (acute and chronic) pain has been identified as a top priority of Canadian Veterans. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the pain experiences of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) families. Thirty-five semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. Demographic information was collected; age, gender, and ethnicity were reported. Twelve CAF members/Veterans, 17 youth, and six spouses were interviewed. Ninety-two percent of Veteran participants reported chronic pain. Reflexive thematic analyses generated four themes: i) Military mindset: herd culture and solider identity, ii) The culture of pain within military families, iii) Inseparability of mental health and pain, iv) Breaking the cycle and shifting the military mindset. Military culture and identity create a unique context within which pain expression and experience is integrally shaped within these families. This study sheds light on how pain is experienced and perceived within military families and can inform research on and efforts to foster resilience in these families. Perspective This is the first qualitative study to explore the lived experiences of pain in Canadian military families. Findings underscore the key role that military culture and identity plays in how pain is experienced and perceived in all family members.

Elsevier

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, SN
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, TL
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, MN
Department of Psychology and Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, AJ
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, TH
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, RM
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans, RM
Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, JS
Child Brain & Mental Health Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, MN