Student Publications

The Experience of BIPOC Living with Chronic Pain in the USA: Biopsychosocial Factors that Underlie Racial Disparities in Pain Outcomes, Comorbidities, Inequities, and Barriers to Treatment

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Purpose of Review: This review synthesizes recent findings related to the biopsychosocial processes that underlie racial disparities in chronic pain, while highlighting opportunities for interventions to reduce disparities in pain treatment among BIPOC. Recent Findings: Chronic pain is a prevalent and costly public health concern that disproportionately burdens Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). This unequal burden arises from an interplay among biological, psychological, and social factors. Summary: Social determinants of health (e.g., income, education level, and lack of access or inability to utilize healthcare services) are known to affect overall health, including chronic pain, and disproportionately affect BIPOC communities. This burden is exacerbated by exposure to psychosocial stressors (i.e., perceived injustice, discrimination, and race-based traumatic stress) and can affect biological systems that modulate pain (i.e., inflammation and pain epigenetics). Further, there are racial/ethnic disparities in pain treatment, perpetuating the cycle of undermanaged chronic pain among BIPOC.

Publication Title

Current Pain and Headache Reports

Publication Date

1-2023

Volume

27

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

10

ISSN

1531-3433

DOI

10.1007/s11916-022-01098-8

Keywords

biopsychosocial, BIPOC, chronic pain, disparities, race

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