About this Research Topic
People are social beings. For the most part, at all stages of their life course, people strive to connect with each other and establish relationships. Being ‘in relation’ or within relationships is core to well-being, quality of life, and emotional and physical health.
Relationships occur in many settings and contexts, such as within families (e.g. siblings, parents, and other kin), between friends and acquaintances, with partners/spouses as well as with other companions (e.g. animals). Relationships can be influenced by gender, race, culture, age, and many other factors.
Relationships can be informal, formal, collegiate as well as platonic, romantic, and intimate.
However, acute and chronic pain can disrupt core aspects of relationships such as active participation and engagement with family, social life, school, and employment relationships. Pain can result in loneliness and disconnection from the social world. The impact of pain can affect not only the person in pain but can spread out to affect those with whom they are in a relationship. Although typically, the focus is on the negative impacts of pain on relationships, pain can also strengthen bonds and create positive outcomes.
The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together a collection of papers that individually and collectively explore and examine pain, being ‘in relation’, and relationships. In so doing, these insights will identify a clearer understanding of the relevance of relationships for people experiencing pain and those they are in relation with, how pain can disrupt, destroy, and shape the formation and continuation of relationships, as well as strategies to support relationships.
We welcome the submission of manuscripts including, but not limited to, the following topics: Special focus will be given (but is not restricted) to the following topic areas:
1. Narrative insights into pain and relationships from the perspective of the person in pain and those with whom they are in relation.
2. Children and young people and the influence of pain and relationships
3. Romantic relationships across the lifespan and the influence of pain
4. Rebuilding relationships disrupted by pain
5. Theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of the role of relationships and pain
6. Mental health and wellbeing: the impact of pain on isolation, depression, and anxiety
7. Pain and loneliness
8. Influence on relationships of factors such as gender and race in the context of pain
9. The experience of pain at work and its influence/impact on work relationships
10. Social capital or asset-based approaches to pain and relationships
11. Age-related differences in the context of pain and relationships (e.g. among widows/widowers)
12. Strategies and approaches to supporting and sustaining relationships threatened by the impact of pain
13. The value of bonds and relationships with animals (eg. pets and therapy animals)
Relationships occur in many settings and contexts, such as within families (e.g. siblings, parents, and other kin), between friends and acquaintances, with partners/spouses as well as with other companions (e.g. animals). Relationships can be influenced by gender, race, culture, age, and many other factors.
Relationships can be informal, formal, collegiate as well as platonic, romantic, and intimate.
However, acute and chronic pain can disrupt core aspects of relationships such as active participation and engagement with family, social life, school, and employment relationships. Pain can result in loneliness and disconnection from the social world. The impact of pain can affect not only the person in pain but can spread out to affect those with whom they are in a relationship. Although typically, the focus is on the negative impacts of pain on relationships, pain can also strengthen bonds and create positive outcomes.
The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together a collection of papers that individually and collectively explore and examine pain, being ‘in relation’, and relationships. In so doing, these insights will identify a clearer understanding of the relevance of relationships for people experiencing pain and those they are in relation with, how pain can disrupt, destroy, and shape the formation and continuation of relationships, as well as strategies to support relationships.
We welcome the submission of manuscripts including, but not limited to, the following topics: Special focus will be given (but is not restricted) to the following topic areas:
1. Narrative insights into pain and relationships from the perspective of the person in pain and those with whom they are in relation.
2. Children and young people and the influence of pain and relationships
3. Romantic relationships across the lifespan and the influence of pain
4. Rebuilding relationships disrupted by pain
5. Theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of the role of relationships and pain
6. Mental health and wellbeing: the impact of pain on isolation, depression, and anxiety
7. Pain and loneliness
8. Influence on relationships of factors such as gender and race in the context of pain
9. The experience of pain at work and its influence/impact on work relationships
10. Social capital or asset-based approaches to pain and relationships
11. Age-related differences in the context of pain and relationships (e.g. among widows/widowers)
12. Strategies and approaches to supporting and sustaining relationships threatened by the impact of pain
13. The value of bonds and relationships with animals (eg. pets and therapy animals)
Keywords: pain and relationships
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
