Abstract
Objective: To understand the lived experiences and needs of college students with chronic pain living in the US and the UK.
Participants: College students (n = 115), mean age 21.4 years (SD = 1.73).
Methods: As part of a larger survey, students were asked: (1) How, if at all, living with pain impacted their college experience; (2) Support they did/did not receive from students, faculty, staff, and college services; (3) What support would be most helpful to them as a college student living with pain. Qualitative data were analyzed using an immersion/crystallization approach.
Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) Stress resulting from the rigid demands of academic life can exacerbate pain; (2) Lack of communication leaves many students feeling isolated; (3) Frustration at lack of faculty support; and (4) Need for chronic pain to be recognized.
Conclusions: The findings suggest areas for intervention to support college students living with pain during this defining period.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of American College Health |
| Early online date | 16 Jan 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 16 Jan 2025 |
Data Availability Statement
Data is available on request from the authors.Keywords
- College student
- pain
- qualitative
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
