The impact of maternal behavior on children's pain experiences: an experimental analysis

Foundational experimental study: when mothers were coached to use "reassuring" behaviour (e.g., repeated empathic reassurance like "it's okay, almost done"), children reported MORE pain in cold-pressor than when mothers were coached to use distraction. Reassurance functions as a cue that something is wrong; distraction shifts attention. Reframed the field: well-intentioned parent comforting can paradoxically amplify distress. Foundation for parent-coaching components of procedural-pain bundles.