“Hurt and Misunderstood”: Emotional reactions to pain dismissal in emerging adults with chronic pain

Survey responses suggest that pain dismissal bothered EAs, and those who experienced pain dismissal had higher anxiety and depression, indicating a need for family/provider education on pain in EAs and validation of pain experiences in EAs. New themes around what constituted pain dismissal included <i>negative self-view</i> and <i>invalidated</i>/<i>gaslit</i>. Future research should explore the long-term effects pain dismissal has on chronic pain outcomes.