Middle-Aged Americans Report More Pain Than Seniors

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found middle-aged Americans are living with more physical pain than older adults, according to U.S. News & World Report . Relatively less-educated people appear to be reporting more pain in middle age. Researchers led by Princeton University Professor Anne Case suspect the causes may be connected to various social variables that affect younger generations without a college degree — declining wages, job instability, fewer social links, less marriage, and more divorce. Case thinks daily stress and poor mental well-being can exacerbate physical pain. The investigators analyzed responses to several U.S. and international health surveys, including Gallup polls done between 2008 and 2017, and the National Health Interview Survey for 1997 to 2018. Subjects reported the most pain in middle age, with a decline beginning around age 60. Among Americans with a bachelor's degree, fewer people reported pain at any age, while pain became more common the older one got. In reviewing the study, David Dickerson with the American Society of Anesthesiologists said the findings highlight pain as an expanding problem among Americans — and future trends do not augur well while the current pandemic could make things worse.