Crosby, C., Cienega, P.P., Bieniak, K., McCracken, K., Fenelon, E., & Tran, S.T. (2024, March 17) Experiences of pain dismissal in college students with marginalized identities [Poster Presentation]. 2024 Annual Big East Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium, New York, NY, United States.

Abstract 

Experiences of chronic pain are frequently misinterpreted and dismissed by others. Marginalized people with chronic pain experience increased barriers to healthcare. We hypothesize that college students with chronic pain and marginalized identities with regard to gender, race, and ethnicity will experience greater pain intensity and dismissal than those without marginalized identities.  

Students at a midwestern university who reported chronic pain (n = 146), completed an online survey regarding their identity and health, specifically pain levels and pain dismissal.   

Female and gender-nonconforming/genderqueer participants reported higher worst pain intensity than males (F(2) = 4.40, p = .014). Female and gender non-conforming/genderqueer participants reported higher levels of pain dismissal than males (𝛘2 (2) = 9.811, p = .007).  

Students of color with chronic pain had worse usual pain intensity compared with white students (p = .003). Experiencing pain dismissal did not differ for students based on ethnicity (X2 (1) =  0.23, p = .64).  

Results show that emerging adults with marginalized gender identities experience higher amounts of pain dismissal. Findings provide greater insight into healthcare experiences for folks with marginalized identities.  Further research is needed outside of a university setting to increase our understanding of the pain experience of individuals with marginalized identities.  

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