The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls
Abstract. Introduction:. Puberty is a critical developmental period during which changes in pain sensitivity are observed. Previous studies found that older and more mature adolescents have lower experimental pain sensitivity. However, it is unclear whether the differences in pain sensitivity are du...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer
2025-08-01
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| Series: | PAIN Reports |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001292 |
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| author | Hadas Nahman-Averbuch Gourav Banerjee Joel Brown Alana McMichael Arbi Ben Abdallah Sarah Buday Thomas Baranski Simon Haroutounian Deanna Barch Sarah Garwood Jacob AuBuchon |
| author_facet | Hadas Nahman-Averbuch Gourav Banerjee Joel Brown Alana McMichael Arbi Ben Abdallah Sarah Buday Thomas Baranski Simon Haroutounian Deanna Barch Sarah Garwood Jacob AuBuchon |
| author_sort | Hadas Nahman-Averbuch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract. Introduction:. Puberty is a critical developmental period during which changes in pain sensitivity are observed. Previous studies found that older and more mature adolescents have lower experimental pain sensitivity. However, it is unclear whether the differences in pain sensitivity are due to age or the pubertal maturation effect.
Objectives:. This observational study examined the relationships between the pubertal maturation stage, age, and experimental pain sensitivity in healthy girls.
Methods:. Healthy adolescent girls (n = 52, mean age 12.0 ± 1.4 years) completed the Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS) to assess their pubertal stage. In addition, they completed a comprehensive quantitative sensory testing session, including pain thresholds, pain ratings to noxious stimuli, and pain modulation tests. Separate regression models were performed to assess the effect of pubertal maturation and age on experimental pain sensitivity as well as differences in experimental pain sensitivity between girls in different subjective self-perceived pubertal timing relative to peers.
Results:. No relationships were found between the PDS score and experimental pain sensitivity; however, age was significantly related to cold pain tolerance (P = 0.030). In addition, to differentiate between puberty and age, experimental pain sensitivity was compared in a subsample of girls of the same age but at different pubertal stages, and no differences in experimental pain sensitivity were observed. No differences were also found when comparing girls who mature early, same, or late relative to their peers.
Conclusion:. Puberty and age may have no effect on experimental pain sensitivity in healthy girls. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-10a73b6dd4aa4c0a89c0f03750d44b8f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2471-2531 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PAIN Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-10a73b6dd4aa4c0a89c0f03750d44b8f2025-08-20T03:47:21ZengWolters KluwerPAIN Reports2471-25312025-08-01104e129210.1097/PR9.0000000000001292PR90000000000001292The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girlsHadas Nahman-Averbuch0Gourav Banerjee1Joel Brown2Alana McMichael3Arbi Ben Abdallah4Sarah Buday5Thomas Baranski6Simon Haroutounian7Deanna Barch8Sarah Garwood9Jacob AuBuchon10a Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAc Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAd Departments of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Psychiatry, and Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAe Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAa Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USAAbstract. Introduction:. Puberty is a critical developmental period during which changes in pain sensitivity are observed. Previous studies found that older and more mature adolescents have lower experimental pain sensitivity. However, it is unclear whether the differences in pain sensitivity are due to age or the pubertal maturation effect. Objectives:. This observational study examined the relationships between the pubertal maturation stage, age, and experimental pain sensitivity in healthy girls. Methods:. Healthy adolescent girls (n = 52, mean age 12.0 ± 1.4 years) completed the Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS) to assess their pubertal stage. In addition, they completed a comprehensive quantitative sensory testing session, including pain thresholds, pain ratings to noxious stimuli, and pain modulation tests. Separate regression models were performed to assess the effect of pubertal maturation and age on experimental pain sensitivity as well as differences in experimental pain sensitivity between girls in different subjective self-perceived pubertal timing relative to peers. Results:. No relationships were found between the PDS score and experimental pain sensitivity; however, age was significantly related to cold pain tolerance (P = 0.030). In addition, to differentiate between puberty and age, experimental pain sensitivity was compared in a subsample of girls of the same age but at different pubertal stages, and no differences in experimental pain sensitivity were observed. No differences were also found when comparing girls who mature early, same, or late relative to their peers. Conclusion:. Puberty and age may have no effect on experimental pain sensitivity in healthy girls.http://journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001292 |
| spellingShingle | Hadas Nahman-Averbuch Gourav Banerjee Joel Brown Alana McMichael Arbi Ben Abdallah Sarah Buday Thomas Baranski Simon Haroutounian Deanna Barch Sarah Garwood Jacob AuBuchon The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls PAIN Reports |
| title | The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls |
| title_full | The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls |
| title_fullStr | The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls |
| title_short | The role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls |
| title_sort | role of puberty in experimental pain sensitivity in healthy adolescent girls |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001292 |
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