Cultural Components of Pain: The Arab-American Child

Abstract

To determine how school-age children from Arab-American cultural group perceive, describe, and respond to painful experiences, 27 children, 8 to 12 years of age, were interviewed. Information was elicited regarding causative factors and word descriptors of pain, feelings, and coping strategies when in pain. Arab-American children could identify sources of pain, use words to describe their pain, and identify coping strategies that are culturally derived to help them deal with their pain.