Hierarchical Bayesian modeling of interoceptive psychophysics.

poses a significant challenge globally, both in terms of disability and economic impact (GBDS ). Conditions like low back and neck pain are particularly common, affecting around 9.4% and 4.9% of people worldwide, respectively (Mills et al. ). Notably, about 10% of individuals will encounter chronic pain in different areas over their lifetime, often leading to even greater levels of disability (Fayaz et al. ). Therefore, understanding the risk factors associated with chronic pain can help shape effective intervention and prevention strategies aimed at mitigating its prevalence and complications. Several individual and context‐related variables contribute to the development of chronic pain. These also include the history of pain, a key factor in understanding its intergenerational transmission (Martì et al. ). However, the role of familial elements in the onset of chronic pain deserves further research attention, especially regarding the extension of additional pain sites. In this respect, Zadro et al. () investigated the parent‐offspring transmission of multisite chronic pain and reported that parental multisite chronic pain may increase the risk of adult offspring developing additional chronic pain sites, particularly those with obesity or inactivity. Furthermore, there is significant evidence indicating that shared familial traits, including genetic predisposition, play a crucial role in chronic pain, with a moderately estimated heritability of 38% (McIntosh et al. ). In fact, empirical findings suggest that young individuals with parents experiencing chronic pain have an increased risk of developing chronic pain themselves in adulthood (odds ratio = 1.30) (Campbell et al. ). They also typically develop pain symptoms at a significantly younger age than their parents (Eidlitz‐Markus and Zeharia ). Furthermore, evidence has shown a significant association between the parental model of chronic pain and pain persistence, higher levels of current pain intensity, and number of locations in offspring (Petri et al. ). Finally, a gender‐related effect has been observed in this family association, with mothers being the most frequently affected parent (odds ratio = 1.5) (Graungaard et al. ). However, research also highlights the mediating role of other factors in individuals at high familial risk of chronic pain. In this regard, the importance of on the development of chronic pain in offspring is still unclear. Few studies on psychological distress have been conducted and knowledge about the subject is limited. An interesting investigation conducted on over 3200 adolescents with chronic pain suggested that concurrent parental chronic pain was associated with reduced self‐esteem and social competence, especially in females (Kaasboll et al. ). Another study on 219 patients with chronic pain showed that maternal pain‐related distress was significantly related to worse psychological functioning in the offspring, especially in women (Evans et al. ). Finally, using family‐based mixed‐model analyses, McIntosh et al. () reported that genomic risk of major depressive disorder is associated with higher risk of chronic pain in offspring.