The long-term implications of early school absenteeism
are potentially of concern with regard to future career
options. Preliminary findings from a follow-up study
(Kashikar-Zuck et al., manuscript under review) showed
that adolescents with JPFS were somewhat less likely to
go to college in the early adult years than their same age
and gender-matched healthy control classmates (39.6% of
JPFS versus 55.8% of healthy controls). More longitudinal
research is needed to examine whether difficulties with
attending school or homeschooling due to pain-related factors
is associated with longer term effects on college and/or
occupational outcomes in JPFS as well as other chronic
pain conditions