Pain among middle-aged and older adults is a significant global public health burden. Examining the ageing process and potential risk factors for this condition is important to guide actions to preserve this population's health and quality of life.

To analyze the association between interpersonal relationships and pain in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults.

This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the second phase of the Longitudinal Study of Brazilian Aging (ELSI-Brasil), conducted from 2019 to 2021. The survey was conducted with Brazilian participants aged 50 years or older. The evaluated outcome was pain, measured by the question, “Do you feel any pain that often bothers you?” (Yes/No). An association analysis between pain and social perception was performed. Pearson's chi-square test was used to analyses dependent and independent variables, with correction for research design for two-way tables, and logistic regression for statistically significant variables (p<0.05). For prevalence, a 95% confidence interval was calculated.

A total of 9875 individuals with a mean age of 66 (50 to 109) years were included in this secondary analysis. No association was found between age and the presence of pain (p < 0.059), not even by age group (p < 0.017). There were statistically significant associations between pain, female sex (p < 0.001), suffering discrimination (p < 0.001), not having friends (p < 0.001), experiencing financial problems for their son or daughter (p < 0.001), being a victim of violence (p < 0.001) and loneliness (p < 0.001).

It is concluded that an association was found between some elements of social perception and pain in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults.

Due to the association presented in our study, it is interesting that issues related to social perception are taken into account for better pain control and treatment in this population.