Abstract
This study investigated the relationships among rearing experiences, emotional dysfunction, and chronic
pain in university students (N=435) shortly after rearing. The presence of chronic pain and areas affected by it were
assessed. In addition, emotional distress was measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), and a Parental
Bonding Instrument (PBI) was used to examine parenting attitudes. Overall, 125 participants (28.7%) complained of
chronic pain persisting for at least six months. A t-test indicated that participants with chronic pain had significantly
higher TAS-20 scores compared to those with no chronic pain. The PBI scores on the care scale or the overprotection scale
as a result of parenting by the mother or father did not differ significantly between participants with chronic pain and
those without chronic pain. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with the presence of chronic pain as the
dependent variable and nine independent variables that included age, sex, TAS-20 subscale scores (difficulty identifying
emotions, difficulty describing emotions, and externally-oriented thinking), and PBI scale scores (care by father,
overprotection by father, care by mother, and overprotection by mother). Results revealed a significant association
between chronic pain and a TAS-20 subscale score (difficulty identifying emotions).
